Brussels — The European Commission has released its 2024 annual report on the Safety Gate, the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, revealing a record-breaking 4,137 alerts issued last year—the highest number since the system’s inception in 2003.
The unprecedented volume of alerts, according to the Commission, is a sign of increasing efficiency and trust in the Safety Gate, as national authorities across the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are using the platform more actively to identify, report, and act on threats to consumer safety.
“This rise in alerts demonstrates how effectively market surveillance is adapting to the challenges of a fast-moving and increasingly digital marketplace,” the Commission stated.
Key Findings from the 2024 Report
- Cosmetics were the most frequently flagged category, accounting for 36% of all alerts.
- Other major categories included toys (15%), electrical appliances (10%), motor vehicles (9%), and chemical products (6%).
- In nearly 50% of cases, the risk stemmed from hazardous chemical ingredients, such as cadmium, lead, and nickel in jewelry, and allergenic synthetic fragrances in body oils.
- Notably, 97% of flagged cosmetics contained BMHCA, a banned synthetic fragrance known to cause reproductive harm and skin irritation.
Enforcement in Action
The alerts triggered swift market interventions. National surveillance authorities conducted over 4,200 follow-up actions to stop the sale or remove hazardous products from the market entirely.
“These coordinated responses are critical in protecting EU consumers from unsafe goods, especially as online marketplaces grow in size and complexity,” said a Commission spokesperson.
Next Step: EU-Wide Product Safety Sweep
The Commission announced it is working closely with Member States to launch the first-ever “product safety sweep”—a coordinated investigation targeting online sales of non-food consumer goods. This initiative will assess compliance with the new General Product Safety Regulation, which took effect in December 2024, reinforcing consumer protections for both offline and online purchases.
The sweep aims to identify illegal listings on e-commerce platforms, where unsafe products often bypass traditional regulatory checks.
Modernized Rules and Digital Tools
The newly enforced General Product Safety Regulation includes:
- Stricter recall rules
- Remedies for consumers
- A Consumer Safety Gateway to report safety issues
- Obligations ensuring product safety regardless of origin or sales channel
In addition, the EU’s e-Commerce Communication, presented in February 2025, outlines new joint actions to counter the influx of unsafe products from outside the EU. This includes tighter customs controls, and stronger enforcement under the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.
Meanwhile, the eSurveillance ‘webcrawler’ has become a key tool in online enforcement. Since 2022, it has:
- Scanned 1.6 million websites
- Processed nearly 4,000 alerts
- Flagged over 5,300 webshops potentially offering dangerous products for sale
New Toy Safety Rules on the Horizon
In a significant development on April 10, 2025, the European Parliament and Council reached an agreement on stricter toy safety rules. The regulation will:
- Ban PFAS, endocrine disruptors, and bisphenols in toys
- Require a Digital Product Passport for every toy
- Strengthen enforcement powers against unsafe toy imports
These rules aim to ensure that all toys sold in the EU—whether online or in stores—are held to the same high safety standards, regardless of where they are manufactured.
Protecting Consumers in a Digital Age
With the continued evolution of global trade and digital commerce, the European Commission emphasized its commitment to proactively safeguarding public health.
“The Safety Gate is more than just a warning system—it’s a frontline defense for consumers. As risks evolve, so too must our tools, enforcement, and cooperation across borders,” said the Commission.
For the full 2024 Safety Gate report and interactive tools, visit: ec.europa.eu
