SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Different Measures for improving Market Protection UNECE Advisory Group on Market Surveillance September 2006 – Bratislava

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Scope of presentation STI’s competencies how to handle problems with regard to,,disappearing´´ companies – why this task? problems with imported products brief overview of annual results and control actions cooperation with Police authorities legal measures – draft of the new Consumer protection law project,,ECHO´´

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Institutional Framework authority of the internal market surveillance financed from the state budget in the chapter of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic independent body in its inspection and decision- making activity central organisation - consists of Central Inspectorate and 8 Regional Inspectorates sufficient number of well-trained human resources (328 employees)

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Legal Framework Act No. 128/2002 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 No. 264/1999 On Technical Requirements for Products and On Conformity Assessment Procedures (the system of government ordinances – transposition of the New Approach Directives) Act No. 634/1992 on Consumer Protection (transposition of the General Product Safety Directive)

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Other 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

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Consumer Credit 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

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION How to handle problems with regard to,,disappearing´´ companies – why this task? cases occurred mainly at market places products imported from third countries it is difficult to trace the main responsible person cooperation with market place administrators cooperation with trade offices the situation has improved

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Overview of dangerous products year months number of notifications from RAPEX number of controls 38,00043,00030,000 findings of dangerous products percentage of dangerous products from third countries percentage of dangerous products unknown origin 82329

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION 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- motobikes, thermo-insulation materials (actions based on the RAPEX findings) Sunglasses, textile and leather goods, crash helmets (proactive actions)

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Cooperation with other relevant market surveillance bodies customs authorities university and forensic experts notified and authorized bodies consumer associations police authorities

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION We propose in the draft of the new Consumer protection law that the product labels from the manufacturer cannot be changed by anybody trade mark owner to be made responsible for the validity of documentation, to be obliged to deposit a certain amount of money with the control body to cover its expenses in case the control reveals that his complaint was unjustified, and to be held liable for any damages caused on the market by action of the control body based on the invalid documentation.

SLOVAK TRADE INSPECTION Information campaign,, ECHO´´ The campaign´s objective is to actively gather information on accidents caused by the use of any non-food products in the household, in leisure and sports activities.

Thank you 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: