Cooperation between market surveillance authorities, case Finland

1
Co-operation between market surveillance
authorities, case Finland

• European Market Surveillance Programming
  Conference
• Brussels, 11th March 2005
• Director Tomi Lounema
• Finnish Consumer Agency

2
The purpose of product safety surveillance in
Finland

• To ensure that goods and services intended for
  consumer use are safe.
• gt To keep people healthy and alive!
• The GPSD (2001/95/EC) has been implemented in
  Finland by the Act on the Safety of Consumer
  Products and Services (75/2004).

3
Product safety surveillance authorities in Finland

• Consumer Agency main responsibility for the
  market surveillance of consumer products,
  handling of consumer reports, the national
  contact point for RAPEX, co-ordination of
  nationwide surveillance projects, preparation of
  guidelines, co-ordination and training of
  regional and local authorities.
• Provincial state offices (5) co-ordination of
  local authorities.
• Municipalities (about 270 surveillance units)
  surveillance of the safety of consumer services,
  handling of consumer reports, searching for
  products reported by RAPEX, other tasks.
• Customs surveillance of certain consumer
  products imported from countries outside the EEA.

4
Other product safety surveillance authorities in
Finland

• Safety Technology Authority
• Customs (Customs Laboratory)
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• National Product Control Agency for Welfare and
  Health
• National Agency for Medicines
• Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety
• National Administration of Shipping and
  Navigation
• Finnish Vehicle Administration
• Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority

5
Challenges to co-operation between authorities

• The extensive scope of application of product
  safety legislation.
• Market surveillance of products gt the
  traditional partners of co-operation
  companies and authorities.
• Surveillance of safety of services gt different
  types of service providers who are scattered
  around the country, several branch organisations
  and authorities, etc.
• Close connection to home and leisure accident
  prevention work.
• gt Co-operation between authorities is essential!

6
Co-operation between authorities 1.

• The Advisory Board for the Evaluation of
  Conformity. Covers all authorities carrying out
  market surveillance in Finland, coordinates and
  deals with problems encountered in market
  surveillance, and promotes the use of best
  practices.
• Regular meetings with other authorities and
  Finnish national RAPEX network.
• International co-operation official (the
  European Commission), unofficial (PROSAFE),
  co-operation between the Nordic countries.
• Co-ordination of tasks and how to deal with
  responsibilities are important!

7
Co-operation between authorities 2.

• Responding quickly to challenges presented by
  the media in articles, letters to the Editor
  etc. Co-ordination of the responses, case people
  abandoned in a cinema.
• Identifying the so-called grey areas and the
  edges of surveillance gt negotiations. Preferably
  before unclarities emerge, for example, when the
  media attacks the authorities with questions like
  isnt there any market surveillance?
• Knowing each other makes it easier for experts to
  communicate (by phone or e-mail).

8
Co-operation between authorities 3.

• Exchange of information. A matter falling within
  another authoritys purview is communicated to
  this authority.
• The Product Safety extranet hosted by Finnish
  Consumer Agency. The purpose is to convey
  information to local product safety authorities.
  The system can also be used by other authorities.
• The Consumer Agency has access to the national
  rescue services on-line information system,
  making it possible to monitor the alarms received
  by fire brigades throughout Finland and to obtain
  information about situations involving an
  accident.

9
The authorities joint market surveillance
projects

• Finland has a cross-sectoral system of product
  safety surveillance.
• A long tradition in Finland. A lot of valuable
  experience.
• E.g. aerosol extinguishers covered by the GPSD
  the Consumer Agency monitors their performance as
  an extinguisher, as well as their directions for
  use the Safety Technology Authority monitors
  compliance with the Aerosol Decree in other
  respects.
• In some cases there may be three co-operating
  authorities.
• The co-ordination of information is the most
  challenging phase. Timing of measures is
  important.
• A common press release or press conference.
  Common press releases usually get a lot of
  attention in the media.

10
Summary what is important in co-operation
between authorities

• Knowing personally the authorities you are
  co-operating with.
• Rapid reaction.
• Making effective use of electronic means of
  communication.
• The co-ordination of information in joint
  projects.