RAPEX serves as a single rapid-alert system for dangerous consumer products. All non-food products intended for consumers, or likely under reasonably foreseeable conditions to be used by consumers, are included within the scope of RAPEX, with the exception of pharmaceutical and medical products.The number of notifications exchanged was 143 in 2001, 168 in 2002, 139 in 2003, and 366 in 2004. Four categories of risks represent more than 60% of all notifications: the risk of choking and suffocation (eg., aspiration in children), (potential) fire risk, electric shocks, presence of carcinogenic substances (in the composition of a product).

RAPEX data from 2004 shows that, beyond European countries, certain Asian countries are frequently cited as country of origin for products carrying severe risk. This has drawn the attention of authorities across the EU, who are seeking to reduce or remove all potentially hazardous products from the Community. Producers (and their representatives or importers) must pay consideration to RAPEX information, which is an effective monitoring mechanism for products entering the European Union.

Exhibit 1 details notifications received within the EU relevant to EU Directives.