Malta is again participating in another product safety joint action which is coordinated by Prosafe and partially funded by the European Commission. This is actually the tenth consecutive year in which Malta is participating in such joint actions.

This year, Malta is taking part in products which are varied and which include soothers and soother holders, plastic toys, electrical household appliances and also power tools. Staff from the Market Surveillance Directorate from the Technical Regulations Division of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority will be taking samples of these products, examine and test them in accredited labs overseas, evaluate the results and take appropriate action against unsafe products that have been placed illegally on the market. Action will be taken in cooperation with the involved business if possible. The same procedure covering the same products will be followed by all Market Surveillance Authorities across Europe, in an effort to ensure as wide an action as possible and enhance the benefits of pooling of resources and testing.

Moreover, the action also provides for horizontal actions which, though not concerning specific products, allow for enhanced product safety surveillance and consumer protection. These actions include Risk Assessment, studies of the effectiveness of joint actions as well as best practise sharing.

The Market Surveillance Directorate of the MCCAA is also very active in the management of this joint action this year, providing both the overall joint action leader as well as the leader for the electrical household appliances product group. This effort is being carried out to ensure that product safety in Malta is kept on a similar footing to the rest of Europe, so that economic operators and consumers alike have increased faith in the market.

More information can be found on www.mccaa.org.mt or www.prosafe.org.