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The Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX)

The Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX)

- Weekly overview report of RAPEX notifications -

week 45 - 2008

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No. Ref.	Notifying country	Product (Click on the photo to enlarge)	Danger	Measures adopted by notifying country	*Products were found and measures were taken also in: ()**
1 1305/08	Finland	Category: Electrical appliances Product: Guitar amplifier – Tiny terror Brand: Orange Type/number of model: Tiny Terror (BS31-MAIN) Description: Guitar amplifier in a white metal enclosure with orange and black stripes and a metal handle. "Orange" is visibly inscribed on the product. Country of origin: China	Electric shock The product poses a risk of electric shock because: - there is insufficient electrical insulation between the primary circuit connected to the mains and the secondary circuit which can be touched via the output terminals, - in the mains transformer the windings are positioned concentrically and installed to the edge of the coil-former, - measured creepage distances and clearances between the primary windings and the secondary winding are less than 5 mm / 4 mm (measured a minimum of 0.4 mm), - measured creepage distances and clearances between the outputs of the primary windings and the secondary windings are less than 5 mm / 4 mm (measured a minimum of 0.3 mm). The product does not comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the relevant European standard EN 60065.	Recall from consumers ordered by the authorities.
2 1306/08	Portugal	Category: Motor vehicles Product: Motorcycles Brand: Honda Type/number of model: NT 700 V/VA Description: Honda Motorcycles, model ‘NT 700 V/VA (2008)’ with the following vehicle identification numbers (VINs): VTMRC52A8E020001 – VTMRC52A8E020360. VTMRC52U8E000001 – VTMRC52U8E000060. VTMRC52B8E020005 – VTMRC52B8E022884. Country of origin: Spain No picture available	Injuries The product poses a risk of injuries because one of the two screws used to mount the bank angle sensor may not be sufficiently tight. If the sensor becomes loose, the engine may cut out.	Voluntary corrective actions taken by the importer.
3 1307/08	France	Category: Communication and media equipment Product: Battery for DVD players Brand: DOKOCOM Type/number of model: DK-YH-102 Portable (DVD players), GRANDIN PX206 model, reference 139032 and SABA 708X model, reference 150301. Description: Portable DVD players (black and white). Grandin DVD players delivered between 5 October 2007 and 5 November 2007, in which the area around the battery caught fire. The notification was extended to cover Grandin DVD players from the previous delivery (9 August 2007) and to Saba DVD players delivered since this date, as they are equipped with the same battery as the Grandin players. Country of origin: China	Fire The product poses a risk of fire because combustion of the battery. Three incidents have been reported.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market and recall from consumers by the distributor.
4 1308/08	Germany	Category: Toys Product: Balloon paste - Magic Balloon 'Formbare Ballons aus der Tube – Pâte à Ballons' Brand: Unknown Type/number of model: Article No 5000, EAN code: 4 01871300124 Description: Three white metal tubes printed in colour, containing coloured viscous balloon paste (colours: red, yellow and blue). Plastic screw top in the colour of the paste concerned. Content: 20g. Accessories in each pack: plastic blow pipe in various colours (red, blue, yellow). Country of origin: Germany	Chemical The product poses a chemical risk because the content of benzene in the free state is 45.6 mg/kg in the red balloon paste and 37.6 mg/kg in the blue balloon paste, which is 7 to 9 times more than the maximum permitted. The product does not comply with the Chemical Restrictions Directive 76/769/EEC.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market by the manufacturer.
5 1309/08	Spain	Category: Lighters Product: Lighters Brand: RASTA Type/number of model: list of references and barcodes Description: Various novelty lighters which operate irregularly and have no child safety mechanism. The label on the boxes is marked with instructions for correct, safe use of the product. Country of origin: Unknown	Fire and burns The products pose a risk of fire and burns because some have no child resistant safety mechanism, others have novelty designs and on some the flame does not go out. These irregularities may result in the lighters being used inappropriately by children, causing the risk of fire or burns. These products do not comply with the relevant European standard EN ISO 9994.	Withdrawal from the market ordered by the authorities.
6 1310/08	Finland	Category: Communication and media equipment Product: Multimedia speakers - impulse 80 Brand: ednet. Type/number of model: Type: 83140, EAN: 4040587831402 Description: Two black multimedia speakers Country of origin: China	Electric shock The product poses a risk of electric shock because: - there is insufficient electrical insulation between the primary and the secondary circuit, - the insulation distance between the primary and the secondary conductors is less than 4.6 mm, - the secondary circuit can be touched through the output terminals. The product does not comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the relevant European standard EN 60065.	Recall from consumers ordered by the authorities.
7 1311/08	Germany	Category: Motor vehicles Product: Passenger car - Disabled driver's hand-operated accelerator and brake control fitted in the models Golf (1J, 1K), New Beetle, Polo, Passat (3B), Lupo and Sharan. Brand: Volkswagen Type/number of model: Vehicle type 1K 1J (Golf) Vehicle type 9C (New Beetle) Vehicle type 7M (Sharan) Vehicle type 6X (Lupo) Vehicle type 6E (Lupo) Vehicle type 3B (Passat) Vehicle type 9N (Polo) Description: The hand-operated controls in question were fitted by Volkswagen to vehicles built between May 2002 and May 2005 and bearing a chassis number drawn from one of the following ranges: WVW ___ 1J _ 3 W 221390 - 689560 WVW ___ 1J _ 4 W 030888 - 188918 WVW ___ 1J _ 5 W 002897 - 078888 WVW ___ 1K _ 5 P 005448 - 097450 WVW ___ 1K _ 5 W 007764 - 249028 WVW ___ 3B _ 3 E 158515 - 466137 WVW ___ 3B _ 3 P 205550 - 458044 WVW ___ 3B _ 4 E 004752 - 343284 WVW ___ 3B _ 4 P 006476 - 195412 WVW ___ 3B _ 5 E 000335 - 174852 WVW ___ 3B _ 5 P 053987 - 053987 WVW ___ 6E _ 5 B 002122 - 002122 WVW ___ 6X _ 3 B 029133 - 060589 WVW ___ 6X _ 4 B 005370 - 012753 WVW ___ 7M _ 3 V 031084 - 039794 WVW ___ 7M _ 4 V 003172 - 032790 WVW ___ 7M _ 5 V 008690 - 036403 WVW ___ 9C _ 5 M 508790 - 508790 WVW ___ 9N _ 2 D 071795 - 076536 WVW ___ 9N _ 2 Y 082270 - 082270 WVW ___ 9N _ 3 D 007600 - 178207 WVW ___ 9N _ 3 Y 023224 - 235742 WVW ___ 9N _ 4 D 007199 - 074081 WVW ___ 9N _ 4 Y 001379 - 229474 WVW ___ 9N _ 5 D 006423 – 026774 WVW ___ 9N _ 5 Y 005430 – 175209 Country of origin: Germany No picture available	Injuries The product poses a risk of injuries because, owing to the fact that the supplier used the wrong material for the bearing-pin swivel plate, some hand-operated controls may develop hairline cracks in the bearing-pin weld seam on the base plate. In the worst cases, this can cause the bearing pin to come loose, leading to a malfunction - including even failure of the accelerator and brake controls -, which could result in an accident.	Voluntary corrective actions taken by the manufacturer.
8 1312/08	Germany	Category: Food-imitating products Product: Decorative stones Brand: Ambiente Deco / Deco Glass Type/number of model: EAN 8711295 652370 Description: Yellow decorative stones made from glass in a wide range of shapes and sizes, some with sharp edges and points, some smooth like glass shards and a few bar-shaped glass pieces. Country of origin: Netherlands	Injuries The product poses a risk of injuries to the mouth and throat, oesophagus or gastrointestinal tract because it can be mistaken for food (yellow rock candy, jelly bears or similar yellow sweets), particularly by children. The product does not comply with the Directive 87/357/EEC on products which, appearing to be other than what they are, endanger the health or safety of consumers.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market by the supplier.
9 1313/08	Portugal	Category: Cosmetics Product: Face cream - Rigenera Brand: Collistar Type/number of model: All batches of the product. Description: “Rigenera – Special face day cream” is a beauty care product with anti-wrinkle, and specifically anti-blemish, action. Country of origin: Italy	Chemical The product poses a chemical risk because it contains bishydroxyethyl biscetyl malonamide which may be carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction and which is banned under the Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC.	Sales ban and withdrawal from the market ordered by the authorities.
10 1314/08	Spain	Category: Childcare articles and children's equipment Product: Soother with fastener Brand: TUC-TUC Type/number of model: Reference 03023 T/00, Bar code: 8470302302003 Description: A white soother in the form of a bear with a fastener and chain with white plastic links. The bear is blue with white stars. The packaging is a transparent plastic bag with a label that reads: "TUC TUC REF. 03023 T/00 sky blue. Moon and stars soother on chain". Country of origin: Spain	Suffocation and chemical The product poses: - a risk of suffocation, because the whole disc of the soother may be put into the mouth by the baby, - a chemical risk, because an allergic reaction to natural rubber latex may occur. The information that the teat is made of natural rubber latex is not given. The product does not comply with the relevant European standard EN 1400.	Withdrawal from the market ordered by the authorities.
11 1315/08	Spain	Category: Electrical appliances Product: Cord extension set - Multiple socket-outlet cord extension set Brand: Pengfan Type/number of model: Unknown Description: A cord extension set with 6 socket outlets and one switch. The cable is 2.5 metres long. The packaging is a transparent plastic bag. Country of origin: China	Fire The product poses a risk of fire because the area of the cable is 1 mm2 whereas minimum required is 1.5 mm2. The product does not comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the relevant European standard EN 60799.	Import rejected by the customs authorities.
12 1316/08	Ireland	Category: Cosmetics Product: Lightening body oil with vitamin E – for a young skin and clear complexion – lightening” / “Huile Eclaircissante a la vitamine E – pour une peau jeune et eclatante – eclaircissant” Brand: Peau claire Type/number of model: Lot 455 Fab 03:07 Exp 03:11 ICD (text unclear) Description: 125 ml white plastic bottle with dark blue cap and text in blue font. Approximately 14.5 cm high and 4 cm diameter. Country of origin: Ivory Coast	Chemical The product poses a chemical risk because it contains 2.0% hydroquinone, as declared on the label, which is banned under the Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market by the supplier.
13 1317/08	Ireland	Category: Cosmetics Product: Skin toning cream with vitamin E and sunscreen Brand: Clear-n-Smooth Type/number of model: 01SP06 Exp Sept 2008 and 84BD07 Exp. Feb. 2009, EAN: 740939 000299. Description: 4 oz / 113.64 ml hard plastic white tub with green screw cap lid. Approximately 6.5 cm high and 6.5 cm diameter Country of origin: United States	Chemical The product poses a chemical risk because it contains 2.0% hydroquinone, as declared on the label, which is banned under the Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market by the supplier.
14 1318/08	Slovakia	Category: Lighting equipment Product: Pendant light Brand: SENTI Type/number of model: type: WLA- 01. Suspension luminaires WLA- 01 with serial numbers 75 and higher are safe. Description: Pendant light with children’s motifs on the lampshade. Data on the plate: "SENTI" s.c., Polska, WLA- 01, E-27, 230V, IP20, 1x60W max, CE and F marks. Country of origin: Unknown	Fire The product poses a risk of fire because: – the lampshade is made from easily flammable material, and did not pass the flammability test or the test for resistance to heat, – the plastic material used in the lampholder is flammable, – data regarding the wiring block is missing from the user’s manual. The product does not comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the relevant European standard EN 60598.	Voluntary withdrawal from the market and recall from consumers by the distributor. Sales ban and recall from consumers ordered by the authorities.

(*) NEW

Enforcement is a top priority of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013. Both measures leading to RAPEX notifications and measures which come to the attention of the Commission and other Member States as reactions are indications of enforcement activity in the Member State concerned.

In order to give a better view on the overall level of enforcement, including the follow-up activities of the national market surveillance authorities, the Commission RAPEX team has decided to publish on the RAPEX website also the names of the countries that have found the notified product on their market and have taken appropriate measures (and have submitted a reaction to a RAPEX notification as a consequence).

Information about the reacting countries is available in the RAPEX weekly overviews in the column 'Products were found and measures were taken also in'. The Commission RAPEX team will publish reactions sent (from May 2009 onwards) to 2009 RAPEX notifications.

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