EU Consumer Chief Faces EU Assembly on Unsafe Good

The European Union's consumer chief will seek the backing of the European Parliament on Wednesday.

The European Union's consumer chief will seek the backing of the European Parliament on Wednesday to try to force EU countries to act against companies which import unsafe goods into the bloc.

EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva will blame member states and not just China for the recent influx of unsafe Chinese-made products -- notably toys -- into Europe when she appears before the parliament's consumer affairs panel.

"She will of course reinforce her view that China needs to clean up its act more quickly or it will face sanctions. But more importantly she will lay the blame at the door of countries which have failed to act," a Commission official told Reuters.

"She will seek parliament's backing in convincing governments to live up to their responsibilities under current EU consumer laws. If countries continue to ignore her, she will take measures against them."

The Commission, as the EU's executive arm, can take legal action against any member state which fails to sufficiently implement or uphold EU laws which ultimately can end up before the European Court of Justice -- Europe's highest court.

Wednesday's appearance by Kuneva will be her first public speech since Mattel Inc recalled millions of its Chinese-made products which contain excessive levels of lead paint and hazardous small magnets.

Last Tuesday the world's leading toymaker made its third such recall in as many months, sparking anger and concern among European consumers over products coming from the Asian powerhouse.

PUNISH EU STATES

Following Mattel's latest move, European Consumers Organisation BEUC said an EU ban on Chinese imports would not prevent unsafe products from reaching European shops.

Instead, it called on Brussels to punish EU governments and firms which allow unsafe products onto the market. The official in charge of the Commission's rapid alert system for non-food products, known as RAPEX backed BEUC's call.

Some EU lawmakers have called for a ban on China's exports, while others have questioned whether current EU legislation is sufficient. The European Parliament, along with member states, has joint responsibility for approving EU consumer laws.

"The Commission is currently carrying out a two-month review of this legislation, but she will tell MEPs that we must force countries to comply with the current laws in the first place if any improvements are to be made," the official said.

Prior to the Mattel recalls, a spate of incidents involving unsafe Chinese products ranging from toys and seafood to toothpaste that entered both EU and U.S. markets has prompted calls on both sides of the Atlantic for a ban on products "made in China".

Kuneva warned China in July that the 27-member bloc would take measures, or even impose a ban, if it failed to halt exports of dangerous products.

"That threat remains, but we need to sort our own house out first," the official said.