Useful links

This website contains all relevant legal and political information on the EU’s approach to product safety. From this page, you will be able to find further detail including links to the EU’s product safety rules and standards for specific products

This is the starting point for finding further information on the EU’s approach to consumer protection. There is a good deal of statistical data and surveys which identify the key concerns of EU consumers as well as further links to CE marking and product safety from the consumers’ perspective

The Safety Gate rapid alert system enables quick exchange of information between EU/EEA member states, the UK and the European Commission about dangerous non-food products posing a risk to health and safety of consumers. By checking this website, you can see what safety problems have been caused by others, helping you avoid making the same mistakes.

Market surveillance authorities and the European Commission collaborate to share information on unsafe products. This website provides authorities with a product risk assessment tool and templates as a means of assessing risk to determine corrective measures. The associated RAPEX system provide alerts about products which are considered to be unsafe and have been subject to such measures so that all Member States can take the same action.

Robust chemical regulation is key to product safety across the full range of products placed on the market. The European Chemicals Agency provides scientific support to legislators to ensure the safe use of chemicals through regulation on areas as diverse as Biocides, Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemicals. It authorizes the use of chemicals in all products through the REACH regulation.

Chemicals, both in their raw state and also incorporated in products are strictly regulated for the European Market to ensure both product safety and environmental sustainability. Controls are exercised through an authorization procedure of substances. This website allows a search by chemical name or CAS number to determine its authorization status for importation.

The most comprehensive guide and key reference document on the EU’s product rules is commonly known as the ‘Blue Guide’. It contains detailed chapters on all the key topics such as the overall legal framework, responsibilities of those in the supply chain, standards, conformity assessment, CE marking etc.

This website will take you to detailed information which would be helpful for Chinese toy manufacturers. It includes further information on the EU’s Toy Safety Directive and links to the harmonised standards which provide the technical detail of the toy safety requirements

This website will take you to detailed information which would be helpful for manufacturers of domestic electrical products. It includes further information on the EU’s Low Voltage Directive and links to the harmonised standards which provide the technical detail of the requirements

This is the link to a trade association which represents the interests of toy manufacturers in Europe. It contains information written from the perspective of European toy manufacturers and contains up to date news on issues of interest to toy manufacturers.