Dangerous toys pulled from shop shelves

DANGEROUS children’s toys were among hundreds of unsafe products, mainly from China, withdrawn from shop shelves last year.

Many of the high risk goods caused electric shocks, injury and burns along with the risk of suffocation.

Toys and electrical appliances were top of the list of menacing goods found on sale in the EU last year.

The number of consumer complaints almost doubled due to improved co-operation between member states.

More than half of the perilous goods came from China.

The annual report on the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX) showed there were 701 faulty goods withdrawn as a result of complaints, 18 of which came from Ireland.

Offices of consumer affairs in each member country notify the European Commission of products that pose a serious risk to people’s health and safety.

The details are displayed on a website and all countries are alerted to the dangerous product which is withdrawn from sale.

While the number of complaints is rising, so is the range of goods. Last year showed a significant increase in complaints about motor vehicles, child care articles and household appliances.

But the biggest increases were a jump of 34% in the number of electrical appliances withdrawn from the market and an increase of 28% in complaints about toys.

Over 52% of the products came from China and Hong Kong, while 21% were made in EU countries.

Hungarians accounted for 17% of complaints followed by Germany with 15%. The nations with the last complaints were Italy and Luxembourg, while Ireland contributed about 3% to the total.

European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, launching the report yesterday, said: “I am most worried by the number of dangerous products marketed in the EU, especially the number of toys. But I am happy that the RAPEX system is working and being used increasingly.”