[RAPEX] Overview of RAPEX notifications in September 2015

According to statistics of September (from 35th week to 38th week) in 2015, there are 126 cases notified in Rapex (The Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products) in total, including 79 Chinese products (accounting for 62.70%). The percent is increased by 13.90% compared with that in last month. Among the Chinese products notified, 29 notifications violate the requirements of REACH Regulation as the following:



The product categories notified through the RAPEX system in September were:


Among the above, toys are most frequently notified products in September due to chemical hazard caused by phthalates and choking caused by small parts. Next to toys, apparel, footwear & fashion items are mainly notified due to chemical hazards and injuries caused by strangulation, AZO dye, chloroform and chromium (VI). And Electrical appliances and equipments are in the third place due to injuries or fire hazards.
 
The fifteen risk categories notified through the RAPEX system in September were:
•Chemical (39 notifications, 27.08%)
•Injuries (31 notifications, 21.53%)
•Choking (21 notifications, 14.58%)
•Electrical shock (17 notifications, 11.81%)
•Fire (10 notifications, 6.94%)
•Strangulation (7 notifications, 4.86%)
•Environmental hazard (5 notifications, 3.47%)
•Burns (4 notifications, 2.78%)
•Suffocation (3 notifications, 2.08%)
•Microorganism (2 notifications, 1.39%)
•Cuts (1 notification, 0.69%)
•Health hazard / other (1 notification, 0.69%)
•Entrapment (1 notification, 0.69%)
•Drowning (1 notification, 0.69%)
•Damage to hearing (1 notification, 0.69%)
 
As shown above, chemical, injuries and choking are the top 3 risks.
 
Reminders: Businesses shall test their products for regulation compliance if necessary so as to reduce economic losses resulting from recalls.