The European Parliament voted today for safer products, by adopting a package of two proposals. Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, Parliament's Rapporteur on Market Surveillance, sees today’s vote as a significant step towards better consumer protection, that benefits also European producers and jobs.

“New products are flowing into the European market and new means of doing business, such as e-commerce, take place, but the vast majority of products (99.7%)  are not checked by any authorities,” underlines Pietikäinen. “For example, low-quality cigarette lighters cause dozens of fires and burns injuries annually, resulting even in deaths!”

Better market surveillance especially benefits European producers of quality products against cheap low-quality imports

“While the legislator has tried to keep up with progress, this had created a complex structure with overlaps and loopholes. Now, the legislation is clearer and simplified and the focus is set on better surveillance. From this perspective the reports on product safety and market surveillance are key elements of the Single Market Act II.”

“Efficient and high-quality market surveillance should guarantee that products placed on the European market are safe and compliant with EU Regulations. This is also a prerequisite of the Single Market, that rests ultimately on consumer trust.”

“Better market surveillance especially benefits European producers of quality products against cheap low-quality imports. As the legislation is now in the hands of the Council, I can only hope that Member States take their responsibility to European consumers and businesses seriously”, says Pietikäinen.