Products that can kill
From toys that can shatter to poisonous cosmetics, more and more dangerous products are finding their way onto the market. That's what the European Commission is warning in its latest consumer protection report.
More dangerous products
EU countries use the Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Consumer Products - or RAPEX - to exchange information about dangerous products on the European market. Last year, inspectors in the 28 EU countries, along with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein banned 2,435 harmful products - 71 more than in 2013.
A new record
Many products put consumers in danger without them even noticing. That's why the European Commission publishes its annual report to warn about these items, some of which may still be in circulation. Some of the most worrying examples:
Children most threatened
Flammable dolls and carcinogenic teddy bears are just two of the products that can harm children. Toys often had small parts that presented a choking hazard or sharp edges that could cause injuries. In 2014, toys made up 28 percent of all products withdrawn from the market - the largest single category.
Fashion victims
Clothing, textiles and fashion items account for 23 percent of the reported unsafe products. Many garments contain dangerous chemicals that can cause skin irritation. Shoes and leather goods were the items that most often contained these toxic compounds.
Playing with fire
Domestic appliances can be dangerous. They made up about 9 percent of all unsafe goods last year. Heated devices can easily catch fire because of poor workmanship. If electrical equipment is poorly insulated, there is a danger of electric shock.
Dangerous imports
Once again, the country that produced the most dangerous goods was China. It was the source of about two-thirds of the reported unsafe products - perhaps not surprisingly, as China is also one of the largest exporters to the EU. Some 14 percent of registered products came from within Europe, mostly from Germany, Italy, Britain and France.
Europe's early-warning system
Since RAPEX was set up in 2003, more than 19,000 dangerous articles have been taken off the market. "Over the years, it has proved to be very efficient in keeping European consumers safe," EU Justice and Consumer Protection Commissioner Vera Jourova said.