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Most RAPEX notifications in EU about dangers related to clothing, textiles and fashion items

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:47:00 GMT

In 2011, a total of 1,556 notifications of products posing a serious risk to consumers’ health and safety were made in the European Union member countries. Most of the notifications concerned clothing, textiles and fashion items.

European market surveillance authorities meet in Tampere

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:49:00 GMT

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is hosting a meeting of the European market surveillance authorities in Tampere on 27 March 2012. Attended by representatives from ten EU member states and Norway, the meeting seeks to find joint rules for the surveillance of the use of environmentally hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products.

Lots of deficiencies in hair dye labelling

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:20:00 GMT

Lots of deficiencies in hair dye product labelling were detected in a surveillance project conducted by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). Tukes obtained 15 samples from physical and online stores and had them tested at the Customs Laboratory. The product labelling was inspected and the products were analysed for certain forbidden dye substances, preservatives and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Labelling deficiencies were detected in 12 products, and the composition of two p...

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) found safety defects in prams

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:25:00 GMT

There is room for improvement in the safety and quality of children’s prams, according to Anna Pukander, researcher at the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). Tukes commissioned tests on six different prams, which revealed safety failings posing a risk to children. In one case, the failings in a combination pram were so serious that the importer recalled the products and removed the prams from the market, while the defects were corrected.

European surveillance authorities for industrial chemicals meet in Tampere

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:16:00 GMT

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is hosting a joint meeting of the EU chemicals surveillance authorities in Tampere on 7–9 September 2011. Attended by more than 35 participants invited from 20 EU member states, the meeting of the so-called Seveso Directive enforcement authorities particularly addresses the assessment of the safety reports to be prepared by chemicals establishments. The aim is to harmonise both the inspections carried out at industrial plants and the safety repo...

New Mining Act to enter into force on 1 July

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:16:00 GMT

Press release of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy In accordance with a Government proposal, the new Mining Act is planned to enter into force on 1 July 2011. The new Act supersedes the current Act, which entered into force in 1965. The new Mining Act is due for approval at the presidential session on 10 June 2011.

Information about dangerous products flows more effectively across Europe

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:30:00 GMT

Information about products that cause serious risk flows more effectively between EU Member States. The number of notifications in RAPEX, the EU rapid alert system for the change of information about dangerous consumer products, has increased notably in the last few years. In 2010 a total of almost 2,000 notifications was received of products causing a serious risk for consumers' health and safety, of which around 100 from Finland. The report for 2010 compiled by the European Commission will ...

European market surveillance authorities gather in Tampere

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:21:00 GMT

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is hosting a two-day meeting of the European market surveillance authorities in Tampere starting on 29 March 2011. Attended by some 30 participants invited from around 20 EEA countries, the meeting aims at outlining common surveillance practices for ensuring the electromagnetic compatibility of electrical products. Right now special focus is being paid to LED lighting products.

Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) becomes operational

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:21:00 GMT

From 1 January 2011 Finland has a new national safety authority. This is following the incorporation of the chemical products surveillance in Finland under a new agency called the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). With a staff of more than 200 people, the new Tukes is an even larger centre for product surveillance that oversees and promotes technical safety and conformity in a variety of branches as well as performing consumer and chemical safety duties.

Hurry causes electrical accidents - a new model will help identify other risk factors as well

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:30:00 GMT

Tampere University of Technology News Although electrical professionals are aware of electrical shock and arc hazards, even they suffer from electrical accidents. Most of the accidents occur because certain safety procedures have not been made prior to work, but underlying behind these omissions are hurry and various organizational causes. In her doctoral dissertation Tuuli Tulonen has examined electrical accident risks of electrical professionals. The public defence of the dissertation will...

Window blind cords and roller blind loops can be dangerous for children

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:40:00 GMT

The cords of window blinds and the long loops of roller shades can cause a risk of strangulation to children. Parents are advised to make sure that the cords and loops do not hang within the reach of children, but are attached safely to the wall or window frame, for example. The Safety Technology Authority (Tukes) also requests manufacturers and importers to pay attention to and minimize this safety risk. The risk should also be mentioned in the instructions. On account of the death that ...

Tukes moves in Helsinki and Tampere

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:30:00 GMT

The Safety Technology Authority Tukes will move to new premises in both Helsinki and Tampere. At the end of May we relocate from our current Helsinki office to Pasila Office Centre (Pasilan virastokeskus) at Opastinsilta 12. In Tampere, you will find our new office at Technopolis Yliopistonrinne, Kalevantie 2, from early July. Our street addresses change, but the telephone numbers and all other contact details will remain unchanged. Our executive management, Consumer Safety Group, Rescue ...

Effective flow of information about dangerous products between EU Member States

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 GMT

The RAPEX system for exchanging information between EU Member States helps to prevent dangerous consumer products from being released into new markets. The report covering the year 2009 compiled by the European Commission will be published today, on 15 April 2010. RAPEX is a rapid alert system that allows EU Member States to exchange information about dangerous consumer products and related measures. The European Commission publishes on its website a weekly overview of these products. The n...

Safety of Christmas toys monitored for the 15th time: 20% of toys tested had severe safety flaws

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:00:00 GMT

50 toys were checked in the Consumer Agency’s traditional toy safety test. Of the toys tested in the Customs Laboratory, 27 met the set safety requirements. In 10 of the toys tested, grave safety flaws were detected, which is why these products will be recalled or repaired. This year, Christmas toys were tested for the 15th time. In collecting the samples for the test, businesses which have no retail outlets in Helsinki were focused on. Only three toys were obtained from Helsinki. The rest ...

Product safety surveillance to be transferred from Consumer Agency to Tukes

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:08:00 GMT

On 1 January 2010, Tukes will be taking over the product safety surveillance tasks from the Consumer Agency. Despite the transfer, product safety will continue to be monitored as before. It has been the Consumer Agency’s responsibility to monitor and ensure that consumer goods and services on the Finnish market comply with the requirements laid down in the Product Safety Act and that they do not present any risk to consumers' health or property. These tasks will be transferred to Tukes on...

More information about dangerous products exchanged between Member States

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The weekly overview prepared by the Commission useful to retailers The RAPEX system for exchanging information between EU Member States helps to prevent dangerous consumer products from being introduced to new markets. The latest report, covering the year 2008, shows that there is now information available on a growing number of dangerous products. Using the RAPEX rapid alert system, EU Member States can exchange information on measures connected with dangerous consumer products. On its web...

Companies to ensure the safety of flotation suits (overalls)

Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

From July, the structure of all the flotation suits sold must be safer than before All flotation suits sold after 1 July 2009 must feature a structure that is more advanced than before in order to protect users in cases of emergency. The Finnish Consumer Agency will make market surveillance of flotation suits on the Finnish market throughout 2009. Studies show that flotation coveralls do not meet the safety requirements that are set for personal protective equipment. For example, a study co...

Consumers develop skin symptoms off recliners sold by Koti-Idea Oy in 2006-2007 - Those who have developed skin symptoms asked to stop using the recliners

Thu, 14 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

All persons who have, between April 2006 and March 2007, bought Chinese-manufactured recliners of the Buffalo or Rento brand from Koti-Idea Oy and who have developed skin symptoms off the recliners are asked to stop using the recliners immediately. In 2006-2007, Chinese-manufactured recliners that caused users different types of skin symptom were sold in Finland. The cause of the symptoms was found out to be dimethylfumarate (DMF), which was used as an anti-mould agent in the packaging mate...

The safety of small children’s textiles monitored - Dangerous drawstrings still found in children’s clothes

Tue, 26 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The most common safety defects found in the small children’s textiles tested in the Consumer Agency’s market surveillance project were the drawstrings and other strings inserted around the hood and neck. In the winter of 2008-2009, the Consumer Agency monitored the safety of small children’s textiles. ’Small children’ were defined as children of 0 to 7 years of age and all children with a height of 134 cm or shorter. The textiles under inspection included outdoor clothes, bed linen, bibs ...

Looking for safe adventures: National surveillance project for programme service safety starts

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A customer taking part in a programme service needs to be able to have a safe adventure experience. To ensure this, municipalities, provincial governments and the Consumer Agency will closely monitor programme service providers throughout the autumn. Programme services include various adventure and experience services, such as ATV safaris, radio tower climbing, Jet Ski rides and wire walking. A joint national monitoring project by municipalities, provincial governments and the Consumer ...