Obligation to notify corrective measures and recalls of dangerous consumer products

General information

If economic operators or operators of online marketplaces are required to recall a dangerous non-food consumer product pursuant to the Regulation on General Product Safety (EU) 2023/988 or take other risk mitigation measures (e.g., withdrawal from the market, public warning), they are required, among other things, to notify the market surveillance authorities via the Safety Business Gateway.

You can access the Safety Business Gateway via the Safety Gate Portal (→ EU).

Enterprises affected

All enterprises that place non-food consumer products on the market are concerned:

• Manufacturers
• Authorised representatives
• Importers
• Distributors
• Online marketplaces

Requirements

If a significant safety risk is identified, enterprises may decide to recall a product or take another appropriate corrective action (e.g., removing the product from distribution channels).

Deadlines

Enterprises are obliged to notify the authorities as soon as they have identified a risk and decided to recall the product.

Competent authority

Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Dept. III/A/3, Stubenring 1, 1010 Vienna, produktsicherheit@sozialministerium.gv.at

Procedure

Enterprises should notify the market surveillance authority via the Safety Business Gateway. It is advisable to also notify the competent authority mentioned above to avoid misunderstandings in the event of delays or transmission errors (email to produktsicherheit@sozialministerium.gv.at).

Costs and fees

No fees or charges are payable.

Further information

The European Commission has published guidelines on the procedural process.

Legal bases

Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety