The Consumer Protection Service (CPC) of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, as the competent authority in Cyprus for the operation and management of European Rapid Product Information Exchange System which is not food, informs consumers that in the week starting on 24/01/2022 (RAPEX - Report 04) 42 products that pose a risk to their health and safety have been notified to the System. These products were found in the markets of various Member States of the European Union and were then notified to the RAPEX Safety Gate System.
Consumers can be informed about the dangerous products on the CPC website at www.consumer.gov.cy.
The 42 products were distributed for market control purposes as follows:
?? Nine (9) in the Consumer Protection Service.
. Fourteen (14) in the Labor Inspection Department.
?? Twelve (12) in the Road Transport Department.
?? Four (4) in the Department of Electromechanical Services.
?? Two (2) in the Mining Service.
?? One (1) in the Department of Environment.
The products related to the Consumer Protection Service as well as the corresponding risks are described in the table shown here.
It is pointed out that the products with serial numbers 1 to 7, have been evaluated by the European Commission as products of serious risk, while products 8 and 9 have been evaluated by the European Commission as products of lower risk.
RECOMMENDATIONS - WARNINGS
The Consumer Protection Service invites importers, distributors, sellers who may have such products to immediately stop their availability and notify the Service.
The Consumer Protection Service also calls on consumers, in case they own the above products, to stop using them and return them to the seller, ie the store from which they have purchased them and at the same time to inform it.
It is noted that according to the Consumer Protection Law of 2021, in case of purchase of an unsafe product, the consumer is entitled to replace the product, so that the product complies with the terms of the contract of sale. If this is not possible, then the consumer is entitled to withdraw, ie to return the product to the seller and get back the full amount paid. It is reminded that the above rights are valid for a period of 2 years from the initial delivery of the product to the consumer and that the sole responsibility for the consumer always lies with the final seller.
In the event that the seller refuses to comply with the above rights of the consumer, the consumer is invited to submit his complaint in writing through the website of the Consumer Protection Service (www.consumer.gov.cy).
CONTACT
For further information or to submit a complaint, consumers can contact the Service through its website (www.consumer.gov.cy) or on the phones:
- Consumer Line 1429
- Nicosia Headquarters 22200927 and 22200925
- Limassol District Office 25819150
- Paphos District Office 26804613
- Larnaca / Famagusta District Office 24816160
Pan-European campaign to check for the presence of hazardous chemicals
At European level, the tenth annual campaign to monitor the implementation of chemicals legislation (REF-10) has been launched. The campaign is coordinated by the FORUM Committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and concerns the control of various chemicals and objects for the presence of dangerous and prohibited chemicals in them. As part of this campaign, the corresponding inspections will be carried out in the Cypriot market as well.
The Department of Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance, as the Competent Authority for this legislation, informs the affected manufacturers, importers and distributors that it is possible to carry out relevant checks on their premises and competent Inspectors to inspect and inspect products. conducting detailed audits. The Inspectors will also check whether the items found to contain chemicals of great concern have been communicated to the supply chain and consumers for better information and protection.
Examples of items to be tested are:
- plastic items, soft plastic items, exercise equipment, toys and baby care items for the presence of phthalates, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and small and medium-sized chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs),
- counterfeit jewelry and other metal articles coming into contact with the skin for the presence of Nickel, Cadmium and Lead,
- clothes and textiles for the presence of azo dyes and carcinogenic chemicals,
- leather items for the presence of hexavalent chromium, azo dyes and dimethyl fumarate (DMF),
- cement for the presence of hexavalent chromium,
- receipt paper for the presence of Bisphenol-A (BPA),
- glues for the presence of benzene, chloroform and toluene etc.
Most of the products that will be tested are expected to be consumer products. The inspections will be carried out simultaneously by the competent Authorities in all Member States during 2022, and the report on the results of the campaign will be published at the end of 2023. Those interested can find more information on the annual pan-European campaigns and the work of the FORUM Commission at the following address: https://echa.europa.eu/el/about-us/who-we-are/enforcement-forum/forum-enforcement-projects.
For more information, interested parties can also contact the relevant Officers at 22405609 and 22405608.