Division 3.1.2 Notifications for information

If the criteria laid down in these Guidelines for the notifications listed in Part II Chapters 2.1 and 2.2 of these Guidelines are not met, the RAPEX Contact Point (see Part II, Chapter 5.1) may choose to use the RAPEX application to send the information concerned for information purposes. Such notifications are classified in RAPEX as ‘Notifications for information’ and they may be sent in the following situations:

1. (a)

   Where all the RAPEX notification criteria laid down in Article 12 of the GPSD or in Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 are met but a notification does not contain all the information (mainly on product identification and distribution channels) necessary for other Member States to ensure follow-up^f1 to such a notification. A notification where the product name, brand and picture are missing and thus the notified product cannot be correctly identified and it cannot be distinguished from other products of the same category or type that are available on the market, is an example of a notification that can be distributed through the RAPEX application as ‘Notification for information’. Assessment as to whether a notification contains sufficient information for other Member States to ensure follow-up activities is always on a case-by-case basis.

2. (b)

   Where a Member State is aware of the fact that a consumer product that is available on the EU market poses a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers or, in the case of products covered by Regulation (EC) 765/2008, is aware of the fact that a consumer or a professional product poses a serious risk to the health and safety or other relevant public interests of the end-users, but preventive and restrictive measures have not yet been taken by the producer or distributor or adopted or decided to be adopted by an authority of a Member State. If information on such a product is distributed through the RAPEX application before measures are taken, the notifying Member State subsequently informs the Commission (as soon as possible and not later than the deadlines specified in Appendix 4 to these Guidelines) of the final decision taken with regard to the notified product (mainly, what type of preventive or restrictive measures were taken or why such measures were not taken). Where the notifying Member State takes measures at a later stage, it informs the Commission, who will update the notification in application of Article 12 of the GPSD or Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.

3. (c)

   Where a Member State decides to notify preventive and restrictive measures taken in relation to a consumer product posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers which has only local effects (‘local event’). If, however, as explained in Part I, Chapter 6.2, a notification by ‘local event’ involves information on product safety likely to be of interest for other Member States, it should be sent as if it were a notification under Article 11 of the GPSD.

4. (d)

   Where a notification concerns a product whose safety aspects (especially the level of risk posed to the health and safety of consumers) are subject to discussion at EU level to ensure a common approach between Member States to risk assessment and/or enforcement action^f2.

5. (e)

   Where a decision cannot be taken with certainty that one or more of the notification criteria are met, but a notification involves information on product safety likely to be of interest for other Member States.

When sending a ‘Notification for information’, the RAPEX Contact Point (see Part II, Chapter 5.1) clearly states the reasons for so doing.