Product safety
Safety labels
Many products sold in the EU are marked with the letters “CE”. If you see the CE label on the sticker attached to a product, or on the packaging or instructions that come with it, that means that the product meets all the requirements to be considered safe for human health and the environment.
There is a list of products that cannot be sold in the EU unless they are marked with the CE label, whether the product was manufactured in the EU, or was imported into an EU country. Some examples of products that require CE marking are toys, electrical or gas-run appliances, and personal protective equipment, among many others.
Product safety testing and recalls
National authorities are responsible for inspecting and testing products on the market. If a product that has already been sold to consumers is found to pose a safety risk, the relevant authority will issue a product recall. If you find that you have purchased a product that is the subject of a recall, follow the authorities’ instructions carefully. There is an EU-wide rapid alert system where consumers can find all recall alerts issued by EU national authorities for products other than food and medicine.
For more detailed information on product safety testing and recalls, go to the website of the relevant country below.
Choose country
See also:
Tips for buying safe products online
SafetyGate – the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products