DANGEROUS TOYS BANNED FROM WEST MIDLANDS SHOPS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd May 2007

A record number dangerous toys and electrical products have been banned from sale in West Midland's shops thanks to an EU-wide consumer protection scheme.

RAPEX is a rapid response system that allows EU countries to share information about products posing a health and safety risk to consumers. The system alerts countries to products that pose a risk so they can be quickly removed from sale and customers alerted to the dangers.

Almost 1000 dangerous products were reported last year and 10% of these were found in British shops. Toys and electrical goods were the most common offenders with electric shock and risk of injury the main reason for reporting.

The majority of problems came from imported goods, with China the country of origin in around half the cases.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne claims the RAPEX system is an example of the EU working at its best.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"If a toy in Spain is found to have the potential to seriously injure or even kill a child then the sooner we can ensure it is taken off British shelves the better."

ENDS

Notes to editors

So far this year Britain has reported a variety of dangerous goods to the register. These range from a 'Superman' toy with a risk of lead poisoning to a kettle that posed a scalding danger from the handle falling off.

The system also protects British holidaymakers abroad. For example, a torch in Spain was withdrawn from sale as it was found to pose a risk of electric shock, while a pull-along toy in Cyprus was found to have a potential choking and suffocation hazard.

The following are a few of the products reported to the EU by Britain since January 2007:

Counterfeit 'Superman Returns' mobile phone and figure set posed a risk of lead poisoning from the paint.

Ladybird baby book that posed a serious risk from choking on small parts.

Quad bike which had a risk of fire and burns from fuel pipe defects.

Die cast metal cars coated with poisonous paint.

Fisher Price/Mattel kettle soft toy which poses a serious risk of choking because the pompom nose could be detached and presents a choking risk to young children.

Marks & Spencer kettle that poses a risk of scalding as the handle of the kettle may become detached.

Upright fan heater posing serious risk of fire due to the casing melting.