In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 961 dangerous products were reported in the EU Safety Gate. The information portal, originally known as the RAPEX system, enables the exchange of warnings about dangerous products between the market surveillance authorities of EU Member States. If such a product is detected and reported in one country, it generally cannot be sold there anymore. In many cases, other Member States subsequently react, impose similar sales bans or order product recalls.
With 251 reports, 26.1% of dangerous products come from the cosmetics sector, followed by toys (17.66%) and electronic products including lighting, multimedia products and fairy lights (15.3%). A high number of sports and leisure articles and pyrotechnic articles were also subject to sales bans or even product recalls by market surveillance authorities.
In total, European market surveillance authorities issued a product recall for 335 products (35%). 37% of dangerous products were sold online. 106 products (11.3%) violated the REACh regulation, 42 (4.4%) violated the RoHS directive.
With 446 dangerous products, more than 46.4% came from the People’s Republic of China. For another 106 products, the country of origin could not be identified. 62% of reports came from Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland.
It was striking in the first quarter that more and more products had to be removed from the market in several EU countries simultaneously. This shows that national market surveillance authorities are working ever more closely together and that reports in the Safety Gate lead to direct measures in other countries.
For example, 3 dangerous bicycles were reported in Spain, Italy and France. Corresponding measures were also taken in Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia and Iceland. Manufacturers and importers can therefore no longer distribute their products in 13 countries.
Product defects are expensive – often more expensive than expected. According to a study by Allianz, the direct costs of a recall for toys or electrical appliances amount to between 650,000 and 1,000,000 Euros. But that is only the visible part: product reworks, packaging adjustments and contractual penalties towards trading partners further drive up the total burden.
Import bans, sales stops or customs delays quickly lead to revenue losses in the six-figure range, even with medium-sized delivery volumes. In the long term, reputational damage often weighs even more heavily – with lasting consequences for market position and business development.
An effective compliance management system is not a cost factor, but a strategic lever. It builds trust with customers and partners and can become a real competitive advantage. Those who establish clear processes and robust control mechanisms early on reduce the risk of fines, revenue losses and reputational damage – and are better positioned for regulatory changes than the competition.
Since 13 December 2024, the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has been mandatory. It also applies where no product-specific regulation such as the Toy Directive/Regulation, the Low Voltage Directive or the PPE Regulation is applicable.
Companies must now carry out a complete risk analysis for all affected products and maintain technical documentation that provides evidence of product safety. Careful, structured documentation is therefore no longer an optional add-on, but a central element of any future-proof compliance strategy.
As you certainly know, the new Packaging Regulation will take effect from 12 August 2026. From this date, you will also have to prepare a declaration of conformity and technical documentation for your packaging.
Much of the information typically lies with suppliers who manufacture packaged products or with packaging suppliers. However, the companies that design or have packaging manufactured are responsible as so-called “producers” for the technical documentation and the preparation of the declaration of conformity. Many companies are not aware of this.
Among sports and leisure articles, three bicycles in Spain, France and Italy were taken off the market. On one bicycle, the handlebar was incorrectly mounted, which leads to handlebar breakage.
On another product, one of the upper bolts that fixes the handlebar to the stem could break easily. On the third product, the fork could break. In all cases, the defects could have led to falls and serious injuries. None of the products complied with the General Product Safety Regulation.
As mentioned, these bicycles must also be removed from the market in 10 other EU countries, which underlines the closer cooperation of market surveillance authorities and massively increases the economic risk for manufacturers and importers.
Fig. 1: Dangerous bicycle
Source: European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10098379?lang=en, Date: 29 April 2026, Language: English
On three swimming pools, the products had straps that can be guided around the outside of the support poles around the pool. These straps can provide a hold or climbing aid, allowing children to enter the pool and drown. The swimming pools were not compliant with the General Product Safety Regulation.
The products all came from China and were subject to a provisional sales ban by the Spanish authorities. They may only be placed on the market again if the product is offered with a repair kit that eliminates the risk. Similar measures were also issued in Germany, Austria, Estonia, Poland and Slovenia, so that this supplier must also act in 6 countries simultaneously.
Fig. 2: Swimming pool with risk for children
Source: European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10096047?lang=en, Date: 29 April 2026, Language: English
Three survival or emergency kits were taken off the market by the Swedish market surveillance authorities. On all three products, the solders in the flashlights had excessive lead concentrations (measured values 19.1%, 76.6% and 84% by weight respectively).
In addition, the plastic material in two survival tool cases contained excessive concentrations of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (measured values up to 9.87% and 13.7% by weight respectively). In the third kit, the housing cover of the camping lantern showed an excessive concentration of brominated flame retardants (PBDE) (measured value up to 0.18% by weight).
Lead poses a risk to the environment. DEHP poses a risk to human health and the environment. PBDE can cause neurodevelopmental behavioural disorders and is highly persistent and bioaccumulative, posing a risk to the environment and human health.
Fig. 3: Survival kit with RoHS violations
Source: European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10097571?lang=en, Date: 29 April 2026, Language: English
In the area of pyrotechnic articles, the Dutch, Belgian and Danish market surveillance authorities reported a total of 19 dangerous products. 12 of the products came from China, 5 from Denmark. 8 products posed a risk of burns, 5 of vision damage and another 5 of hearing damage.
On one product, the fuse delay was excessively long, which can lead users to approach the firework too early while it is still active. This increases the risk of being hit by pyrotechnic effects. In addition, the sound pressure level was too high, which can cause hearing damage. The firework can also burst or eject burning material outside the intended safety distance of 8 m or below a height of 3 m, potentially hitting and injuring users.
Other fireworks had too many types with and without fuses. Users can ignite them and cause injuries and/or burns. Numerous other products had different combinations of the risk factors mentioned, but all violated the requirements of the Pyrotechnics Directive and the European standard EN 15947-5.
Fig. 4: Dangerous fireworks
Source: European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10098093?lang=en, Date: 29 April 2026, Language: English
Do you distribute sports and leisure equipment, electrical products or pyrotechnics?
How sure are you that all the risks of your products are fully taken into account?
How do you ensure that you know and comply with the current standards?
Have you prepared a risk analysis for all your products that you could provide to authorities upon request?
Do you comply with the new Packaging Regulation and do you have declarations of conformity for all your packaging?
Do all your suppliers know the requirements of the REACH or POP regulations and the relevant harmonised European standards?
Do you have complete technical documentation for all your products, as required by the new Product Safety Regulation?
Do you have meaningful tests and documents from your suppliers regarding the chemical and electrical components of your products?
How well are you prepared for a product recall and have you set up a product recall management system?
If you see a need for action here, we will gladly support you in identifying potential risks and avoiding additional costs caused by dangerous products.
We support you in setting up appropriate risk management and accompany you through the conformity assessment process, including the preparation of technical documentation, risk analysis and EU declaration of conformity.
What do you need to do now? Book our free initial consultation now.
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What do you need to do now? Book our free initial consultation now.
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