Customs system reform against unsafe products
The European Union has adopted a reform of the customs system aimed at protecting consumers from unsafe products increasingly ordered online. The impetus for this move are numerous tests by consumer organizations that have shown that the European market contains dangerous toys, textiles with banned chemicals, and other products of questionable quality, mostly from online platforms outside the EU. Under the new rules, online platforms importing goods into the EU will have clearly defined responsibility for the safety of the products they sell. If a product proves to endanger consumer health or safety, penalties are foreseen for the platforms. One of the key innovations is improved data exchange between customs and supervisory authorities, which should enable faster detection of questionable shipments and risky traders. The goal is to stop dangerous products before they reach consumers. It is also important for buyers that prices will be more transparent in the future – costs must be clearly displayed in advance, without subsequent and unexpected customs duties. The European consumer organization BEUC states that this is an important step towards greater consumer protection, as well as fair competition in the market.
