1. Co-operation between market surveillance authorities, case Finland European Market Surveillance Programming Conference Brussels, 11th March 2005 Director Tomi Lounema Finnish Consumer Agency

2. The purpose of product safety surveillance in Finland  To ensure that goods and services intended for consumer use are safe.  => To keep people healthy and alive!  The GPSD (2001/95/EC) has been implemented in Finland by the Act on the Safety of Consumer Products and Services (75/2004).

3. Product safety surveillance authorities in Finland  Consumer Agency: main responsibility for the market surveillance of consumer products, handling of consumer reports, the national contact point for RAPEX, co-ordination of nationwide surveillance projects, preparation of guidelines, co-ordination and training of regional and local authorities.  Provincial state offices (5): co-ordination of local authorities.  Municipalities (about 270 surveillance units): surveillance of the safety of consumer services, handling of consumer reports, searching for products reported by RAPEX, other tasks.  Customs: surveillance of certain consumer products imported from countries outside the EEA.

4. Other product safety surveillance authorities in Finland  Safety Technology Authority  Customs (Customs Laboratory)  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health  National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health  National Agency for Medicines  Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety  National Administration of Shipping and Navigation  Finnish Vehicle Administration  Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority

5. Challenges to co-operation between authorities  The extensive scope of application of product safety legislation.  Market surveillance of products => the ”traditional ” partners of co-operation: companies and authorities.  Surveillance of safety of services => different types of service providers who are scattered around the country, several branch organisations and authorities, etc.  Close connection to home and leisure accident prevention work.  => Co-operation between authorities is essential!

6. Co-operation between authorities 1.  The Advisory Board for the Evaluation of Conformity. Covers all authorities carrying out market surveillance in Finland, coordinates and deals with problems encountered in market surveillance, and promotes the use of best practices.  Regular meetings with other authorities and Finnish national RAPEX network.  International co-operation: official (the European Commission), unofficial (PROSAFE), co-operation between the Nordic countries.  Co-ordination of tasks and how to deal with responsibilities are important!

7. Co-operation between authorities 2.  Responding quickly to ”challenges” presented by the media: in articles, letters to the Editor etc. Co- ordination of the responses, case: people abandoned in a cinema.  Identifying the so-called grey areas and the edges of surveillance => negotiations. Preferably before unclarities emerge, for example, when the media attacks the authorities with questions like ”isn’t there any market surveillance?”  Knowing each other makes it easier for experts to communicate (by phone or e-mail).

8. Co-operation between authorities 3.  Exchange of information. A matter falling within another authority’s purview is communicated to this authority.  The Product Safety extranet hosted by Finnish Consumer Agency. The purpose is to convey information to local product safety authorities. The system can also be used by other authorities.  The Consumer Agency has access to the national rescue service’s on-line information system, making it possible to monitor the alarms received by fire brigades throughout Finland and to obtain information about situations involving an accident.

9. The authorities’ joint market surveillance projects  Finland has a cross-sectoral system of product safety surveillance.  A long tradition in Finland. A lot of valuable experience.  E.g. aerosol extinguishers covered by the GPSD: the Consumer Agency monitors their performance as an extinguisher, as well as their directions for use; the Safety Technology Authority monitors compliance with the Aerosol Decree in other respects.  In some cases there may be three co-operating authorities.  The co-ordination of information is the most challenging phase. Timing of measures is important.  A common press release or press conference. Common press releases usually get a lot of attention in the media.

10. Summary: what is important in co-operation between authorities 1.Knowing personally the authorities you are co- operating with. 2.Rapid reaction. 3.Making effective use of electronic means of communication. 4.The co-ordination of information in joint projects.