Slovak Trade Inspection Country preparation and expectation from new cooperation under Regulation on Market Surveillance The 5 th workshop of the UNECE MARS Group 10 – 13 October 2007 – Bratislava

Scope of presentation Competencies of Slovak Trade Inspection Planning of controls Overview of control actions in 2006 and 2007 Brief overview of annual results Main experience in last years (changes, problems, similarities and differences... Co-operation Information

Competencies of Slovak Trade Inspection Act on State Control of Internal Market in the Consumer Protection Matters (the sphere of authority of STI, the rights and duties of the inspectors, the rights and duties of the inspected persons, powers - protective measures and fines) Act on Technical Requirements for Products and On Conformity Assessment Procedures (the system of government ordinances – transposition of the New Approach Directives) Act on Consumer Protection (transposition of the General Product Safety Directive in the form of Governmental Ordinance to the Act )

New Approach Directives Machinery Directive Low Voltage Directive Electromagnetic compatibility Toy Safety Directive Pressure Equipment Directive Personal Protective Equipment Directive Recreational Craft Radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment Appliances Burning Gaseous Fuels Refrigeration appliances Noise Emission Construction products

Other Acts regarding protection of consumer’s economic interests... Acts on Prices Protection of Non-smokers Conditions for the Marketing of Products and the Provision of Services in Market Places Consumer Protection at Door-to-Door Sale and Home-Delivery Sale Emergency Reserves of Oil and Oil Products and on Resolution of Oil Crisis Advertising Financial services Consumer Credit

Other Acts regarding protection of consumer’s economic interests... Conducted Tours, Conditions for the Enterprise of Travel Offices and Agencies E-commerce Waste Packing Building Products Chemical Substances and Preparation Conditions for the Launch of Biocide Products onto the Market Protection of some TV and Radio broadcasting services Passenger rights in air transport

Planning of control based on complaints of consumers and economic operators announcements of other administration bodies new legal norms experience from previous controls experience from appeal procedures follow-up of the measures notifications from RAPEX system risk assessment

Overview of control actions in 2006 Pressure cookers [common action within EU] Toys, household electric appliances, textile goods for children, baby carriages, child car seats [cross-border cooperation with Hungary and the Czech Republic] Playground equipment, novelty lighters, motor chainsaw, mini-motorbikes, thermo-insulation materials [action based on the RAPEX findings] Sunglasses, textile and leather goods, crash helmets [proactive action]

Overview of control actions in 2007 Extension leads (LVD), control of electric products subject to EMC, novelty lighters [common action within EU] Toys (content of phthalates), children’s bicycles, writing materials like pens, pencils, crayons, markers, tempera… [cross-border cooperation with Hungary and the Czech Republic] Textile goods for children, recreational craft, electric fans, shoes sold at market places, toys with colorful surface [proactive action]

RAPEX system year * Number of notifications findings of dangerous products 37 (5-R) 57 (22-R) 78 (15-R) 137 (11-R) dangerous products from third countries 76 %60 %54 %52 % dangerous products of unknown origin 8 %23 %31 %28 %

Dangerous products year * Number of dangerous products Harmonized area % Non-harmonized area % Products with CE mark %

CE marking Despite of the fact that more than 70% of dangerous products in harmonized area were labeled with CE mark we support retaining the mark on condition that its justified use will be systematically monitored by market surveillance authorities.

Main experience within control activity there have been no dramatic changes in market surveillance principles market surveillance performance has become more difficult: 1.variety of commodities with identified risk has been increasing together with reasons of unsafe 2.CE mark loses its credibility 3.high number of notifications from RAPEX requires higher capacity 4.problems with translation of materials 5.duty to complete investigation process before posting information to RAPEX makes system less dynamic economic operators take voluntary measures gradual transition of controls from harmonized to non- harmonized area general problems with products imported from third countries general problems with safety of toys and electric appliances

Co-operation with other relevant market surveillance bodies within national and common market customs authorities university and forensic experts notified and authorized bodies consumer associations police authorities

Administrative cooperation year Czech Republic723 Poland Hungary153 Austria14 Italy4 Germany12 Spain2 France1 Netherlands1 Slovenia1 Together103650

Cooperation with Customs Authorities January 2001 Convention on cooperation November 2004 reviewed Convention (according to Regulation 339/93) August 2006 reviewed Convention (according to Decision 2006/498 – lighters 2007 regularly meetings, seminars and trainings

Information and education via media, Internet, annual reports... On web site overview of the dangerous products which were found on our market overview of all notifications on the internal market important warnings sent by manufacturers in case they launched a product which might pose a risk to consumers

Thank you For further information, please contact: Nadezda Machutova General Director Slovak Trade Inspection Prievozská Bratislava 27 Slovak Republic Tel: 00421/02/ ; Fax:00421/02/ Web-site: