The European Commission proposed new rules to improve the safety of consumer products circulating in the Single Market and to step-up market surveillance concerning all non-food products, including those imported from third countries. The two legislative proposals are complemented by a multi-annual plan for market surveillance setting out 20 concrete actions to be undertaken from now to 2015 to improve market surveillance.

New rules to improve the safety of consumer products circulating in the Single Market and to step-up market surveillance concerning all non-food products, including those imported from third countries, were proposed by the Commission. According to the Commission, these two legislative proposals will enable better coherence of the rules regulating consumer products identification and traceability and improved coordination of the way authorities check products and enforce product safety rules across the European Union. In October 2012, a new international portal was launched to exchange information about unsafe products that have been taken off the market.

The proposals are aimed at the alignment of the general obligations of economic operators to ensure the safety of all consumer products with clearer responsibilities for manufacturers, importers and distributors. The Commission also highlighted that through a single set of coherent rules for market surveillance, it will be applied more effective tools to enforce safety and other product-related requirements and to take action against dangerous and non-compliant product across all sectors. The new proposed rules seek also the creation of a more cooperative system of market surveillance across the EU. Moreover, streamlined procedures for the notification of dangerous products, and synergies between the existing Rapid Alert Information System (RAPEX) and the Information and Communication System for Market Surveillance (ICSMS).

The Commission also stressed that consumers will benefit from the proposals because it would mean more consumer confidence in the internal market. Besides, more coherent rules will apply for manufacturers and/or businesses. Furthermore, better coordination of product safety checks means eliminating unfair competition from dishonest or rogue operators. The proposals will now be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. The new legislation is expected to come into effect in 2015.