• In 2020, UOKiK submitted 148 notifications regarding nearly 3.5 million unsafe products to the RAPEX system.
• The largest number of notifications concerned toys - 73, electrical and lighting equipment - 28 and personal protective equipment - 24.
• A USB charger, a slime toy, a personal protection mask - these are examples of products that we have eliminated from the market thanks to the RAPEX platform.

RAPEX – Safety Gate (Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products) System is the EU rapid exchange system for information on dangerous non-food products. Its main purpose is to ensure good communication between EU Member States and the European Commission on hazardous products. The system also contains data on actions taken by Member States or by economic operators themselves to exclude or restrict trade in dangerous products. The RAPEX system involves countries within the European Economic Area (the 27 members of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

“We actively participate in RAPEX by reporting dangerous products detected in our country. We also react to notifications from other countries, especially when the threat is caused by a Polish entrepreneur. With the RAPEX platform, dangerous products can be eliminated from the market quickly and effectively. Throughout the year, the Trade Inspection Authority, which reports to the President of UOKiK, checks the quality and safety of toys, furniture, tools and a number of other products available in Polish stores. Consumers, who should have access only to safe articles, benefit from it,” Tomasz Chróstny, the President of UOKiK, explains.

The RAPEX system includes non-food products that are both intended for consumers and that are likely to be used by consumers. However, the registry does not contain information on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, feed or food - the latter group operates its own system (RASFF).

Our activities in 2020

According to the European Commission's latest report on the operation of RAPEX, the number of notifications on dangerous products has increased almost fivefold since 2013. In 2020, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection submitted 148 notifications concerning almost 3.5 million items of dangerous products. We rank fourth among the system user-countries (behind Germany - 430 notifications, the United Kingdom - 309 notifications and Hungary - 169 notifications). Poland's notifications were mostly related to toys - 73, electrical and lighting equipment - 28 and personal protective equipment - 24.

Notifications regarding toys mainly concerned their design defects or the materials they are made of, including their chemical composition. Also, too-small parts that easily detach from the toy and can be swallowed by a child can pose a danger to the youngest consumers. We notified the RAPEX system of, inter alia, dolls containing phthalates, i.e. phthalic acid esters that soften plastic and plasticize it. Their permitted limit in toys is 0.1 percent maximum. Higher concentrations are dangerous to health - it can cause fertility disorders, risk kidney or liver damage, the development of asthma, and even cancer.

Popular slime toys, called bogeys, were also entered into the RAPEX system. These are soft toys with the consistency of jelly or gel, easy to squish. In these toys, UOKiK lab experts found exceeded migration of boron, which provides flexibility to the toy. It should not exceed 300 mg/kg. Otherwise, it can cause nausea, vomiting, excessive agitation, and even nervous system disorders.

Download the report of the European Commission summarizing RAPEX - Gate Safety in 2020.

Consumer support:

Phone: +48 801 440 220 or +48 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
E-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer advocates – in your town or district
Trade Inspection Authority – in your Province

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL