Even on the most well‑known online platforms, essential information about manufacturers, safety warnings or the responsible person in the European Union (EU) is often missing. These conclusions were drawn during a coordinated inspection (“Sweep”) organised by the European Commission, in which the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (CRPC) participated last year together with EU market surveillance authorities.
As e‑commerce volumes continue to grow, consumers must receive the same information online as they would when shopping in person in order to assess product safety. A lack of information significantly limits consumers’ ability to evaluate whether products comply with safety requirements. Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety requires platforms to provide essential product information, including:
- product identification;
- the manufacturer or the responsible person in the EU;
- warnings and other safety‑related information.
The inspections focused on platforms offering childcare products. In total, EU market surveillance authorities analysed 1,741 offers of childcare products across 47 different platforms (both EU‑based and third‑country platforms). The results show that:
- in 48% of cases, complete information about the manufacturer was missing;
- in 32% of cases, information about the responsible person in the EU was missing;
- in 5% of cases, information allowing the product to be identified was missing.
Authorities also identified 16 offers of dangerous products that had already been subject to alerts in the EU rapid alert system Safety Gate. In most cases, platforms removed the infringements following requests from authorities (79%).
Results in Latvia
CRPC inspected 50 offers of children’s furniture on five platforms:
aliexpress.com, amazon.com, etsy.com, temu.com and 220.lv.
The following was identified:
- 36 non‑compliant offers (72%);
- one platform where no non‑compliances were found;
- three platforms where all inspected offers were non‑compliant.
The inspections show that some platforms still lack sufficient understanding of their obligations. CRPC will continue its monitoring activities and participation in joint EU initiatives. CRPC also calls on traders to ensure that their offers comply with regulatory requirements.
In addition to platform inspections, CRPC last year tested products purchased from third‑country platforms. In total, 130 product samples were tested, and 56% of them were found to be unsafe.
The highest rates of non‑compliance were identified in:
- children’s products – 67%;
- costume jewellery – 64%;
- toys – 42%;
- electrical equipment – 40%;
- smart radio equipment – 35%.
CRPC reminds consumers that non‑compliant electrical equipment may pose risks of electric shock or fire. Hazardous substances detected in toys and costume jewellery—such as phthalates and cadmium—can pose serious health risks, especially to children, including effects on the hormonal system, organ damage or other long‑term health problems.
Recommendations for Consumers
- Make sure the product description includes all required information (intended use, manufacturer, responsible person in the EU, safety information and warnings).
- Do not purchase products if you cannot verify their suitability or compliance, or if information about the manufacturer or responsible person is missing.
- Check whether the platform provides contact details.
- If an offer does not meet requirements or raises safety concerns, inform the platform, the seller, the indicated responsible person in the EU and CRPC.
- More information about unsafe products is available on the EU Safety Gate portal.