Danone strawberry yogurts which contain a few “little metallic threads”, Formula baby car seats whose restraint device can injure the child, M & Ms made with a prohibited additive or even Decathlon buoys which create the risk of drowning.
Each year in France, around 2,000 different products are recalled by manufacturers because they are defective and may cause serious injury.
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Problem, information often struggles to trickle down to the consumer.
Between the displays that are not always readable in the shops where the products were sold and the institutional communication that navigates, depending on the products, between the websites of the ministries of the Economy, the Environment, Agriculture or even that of the European Commission, it is difficult for consumers to have access to clear and detailed information.
Also, from this Thursday, the government is dusting off its information system by launching RecallConso, a website exclusively dedicated to recalls of dangerous products.
Its users will have access to the various recall notices classified into ten categories: food, automobile and means of transport, baby-child, hygiene-beauty, fashionable clothing, sports-leisure, homes-housing, electrical appliances, tools and communication equipment.
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"Easy and comprehensive access" to hazardous products
“On each recall sheet, the consumer will find the photo of the product, the brand, the batch number, the distributor and the geographical area concerned, the risk incurred and the procedure to be followed if he has the recalled product at home, lists Alain Griset, Minister Delegate in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises.
This device will allow consumers to have easy and comprehensive access to products which may constitute a danger to their health ”.
The stakes are high.
Recently, on various models of German and French cars, defects that could lead to braking problems were detected.
“It's easier to recall a car than a bottle,” continues Alain Griset.
The automotive sector has put in place a powerful control system.
As soon as there is a problem with a particular model, the manufacturers take steps to warn their customers, it is a virtuous model.
On the other hand, for very consumer products, such as drinks, food or hygiene products, it is difficult to identify each customer.
"From where the interest of the reminderConso site", justifies the General Directorate of competition, consumption and the repression of fraud (DGCCRF).
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Within its scope of competence, the DGCCRF carried out 1,126 reminders in 2020, against 488 in 2019 and 700 three years ago.
Among the main food products recalled are cereals and their derivatives, food supplements and bakery products.
For non-food products, electrical appliances, hygiene products, toys and biocides are the most recalled items.
According to the DGCCRF, the main causes of recalls are microbiological contamination, non-declaration of an allergen, the presence of a prohibited chemical substance or even small detachable elements that can be ingested by children.
The shadow of the Lactalis scandal
Behind the creation of this site, there is the Lactalis scandal.
In December 2017, salmonella were discovered in infant milk powders manufactured by the dairy giant in its Celia factory in Craon, Mayenne.
At least 38 children will be hospitalized.
The first elements of the investigation, still in progress, reveal numerous failures in the self-checks carried out by the manufacturer.
“The contaminated lots, unfortunately, were not removed early enough, remembers, bitterly, Alain Griset.
The launch of AppelConso was therefore necessary.
It was necessary to set up a platform that would allow more visibility to strengthen consumer information.
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This new site complements the one launched in July, SignalConso, which facilitates the reporting of consumer information to the repression of fraud.
From now on, companies are required to declare their recall notice there.
In the event of failure or inaccurate information, a fine of 1,500 euros per product concerned may be imposed.
In addition, if a company does not withdraw a dangerous product, it can be prosecuted for “aggravated deception” and incurs up to seven years of imprisonment and 750,000 euros in fine.
