European directive on product safety
In Italy and in all member states, Directive 2001/95/EC regarding the general safety of products will come into force on January 15, 2004. The Gpsd (General Product Safety Directive) is based on the general axiom: "manufacturers are required to place on the market only those products that are safe and it applies to products which do not already come under a vertical directive and, in part, to products which already come under a specific EC directive.'
On the basis of the directive, product safety must be guaranteed starting from the design stage, which must include the analysis of risks (chemical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, inflammability, etc.) for the consumer and so on up to the creation of a specific withdrawal procedure and the removal of any defective products from the market.
Whereas Directive 93/42/CEE for medical devices already covers all the requirements indicated in the new directive, the situation is different for sunglasses and individual protection devices, at present covered solely by directive 89/686/CEE.
The most significant obligations that must be also be implemented for protection devices starting from next year are basically four in number: product identification, risk analysis, investigation of complaints and traceability of defective products. The information leaflet enclosed with the product giving the manufacturer's name and technical specifications is sufficient today, but from January 15 all sunglasses or Ipds must carry 'the product's reference or batch number'; in other words, the model code number or even the product batch number.
The manufacturer or distributor must then have procedures in place which describe the risk analysis process, the investigation of complaints and, if necessary, keep a register of these, as well as information from the manufacturer to the distributor with regard to supervision. Distributors (any operator in the sales chain) are also obliged to take part in checking the safety of the products placed on the market, and specifically by issuing information about product risks, preserving and supplying documentation which will trace product origin, and collaborating in actions taken by manufacturers and the relevant authorities to avoid such risks.
In the event of a serious hazard, these procedures must make it possible for the defective product to be withdrawn from the market and safeguard the consumer.
(Source: Certottica News)
