Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

The Rapex System The European Commission's "Product Recalls" programme allows member states to find out which products have been withdrawn by national authorities in the EU because they are considered unsafe under European regulations. 

In the 4th Quarter 2020 were notified 713 items This is the quarter with the highest number of incidents of the whole year.

In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2 product typologies have started to appear in the reports that we were not used to:

• • 1. The particulate filter masksThey are used by a large number of professionals with different profiles. Remember: Do not confuse them with masks for sanitary and infection prevention uses, which are Medical Devices, and therefore are not notified through the Rapex System.
  • 2. Biocidal hand sanitising gels.

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020: The Rapex System is a tool created in 2004 by the European Commission for the authorities of all member countries to notify those products that have been withdrawn at and within their borders as unsafe.

Through its publications on the Safety Gate portal, the Rapex system makes information on recalled articles accessible to all member countries. And that has an added value: with good coordination, authorities in member countries can stay alert and take similar decisions in the event of encountering the same unsafe product.

Articles notified by Rapex alerts are divided into weekly reports by product category.. And there are some twenty possible categories of non-food products: Chemicals, Decorative items,  Motor Vehicles, Electrical Appliances, Toys, Pyrotechnics, Cosmetics, Protective Equipment, Fashion and textile...

In the Rapex 4th Quarter Report you will find information mainly on the development of the cosmetics sector. But we also report on the tattoo ink recalls also known as permanent make-up, and we keep an eye out for permanent make-up.ny product in the self-care sector to be notified.

In this quarter, in addition to all these products on which we regularly report, we would also like to inform you that two types of articles have been withdrawn that were previously unnoticed: particle filter masks and biocide-type hand disinfectant gels.

In both cases, it is obvious that the proliferation of COVID-19 infections has forced member states to review the products on their market for these purposes. And we can affirm, based on the large number of alerts published for both typologies, that these reviews are being carried out.

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Total number of products withdrawn by the Rapex System

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020: The Rapex System published during the 4th Quarter of 2020 and, punctually every Friday morning, a total of 13 Rapex reports (see Table 1). A total of 713 items were recalled, a very high number, almost double that of the previous quarter (when a total of 416 products were reported banned from the market)..

In fact, this is by far the most incident quarter of 2020. And perhaps that may be because the EU has finally been recovering from the huge market shock of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

By monthwere carried out 165 withdrawn in October, 244 in November y 304 in December.  

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Alerts published in the Cosmetics Category

In the cosmetics category, the Rapex System has reported a total of 25 cosmetic product alerts (see Table 2)by month, 6 in October, 15 in November and 4 in December. 

This is a very high figure indeed, since the number of cosmetics recalls per year is usually around 60. But it may seem more reasonable if we take into account that, within the total number of recalls, the percentage of cosmetics has remained in the average (between 5% and 7% of the total number of alerts). 

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Total number of cosmetics withdrawn in Rapex alerts

In addition to the 25 cosmetic products that have been published in the category Cosmetics by Rapex System, at GTF M. Camps we have managed to find 3 cosmetic products.

Which cosmetic products have not been correctly notified? 

In this case, we have encountered two incidents of note:

• On the one hand, 3 shower gels - with three different scents/aromas: "Lime & Matcha" (green), "Raspberry & Coconut" (pink), and "Blueberry & Vanilla" (blue), respectively - have been reported in 1 single Rapex alert. Therefore, it is not being treated as 3 alerts, but as one, and that is not correct. Normally, national authorities publish each individual item in a separate alert.
• On the other hand, a set of false nailswhich was published in the category of Clothing, Textiles and Fashion Items. The glue contained dibutyl phthalate (DBP)The article was therefore withdrawn as it did not comply with the EU's environmental legislation, a substance that is not allowed in the manufacture of cosmetics, as it can damage health and harm the reproductive system or the foetus. Therefore, the article was withdrawn as it did not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009.

Reminder: The glue for false nails is undoubtedly considered by the Spanish authorities as a cosmetic product..

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Withdrawn Tattoo Inks

Despite the huge number of recalls in Q4 2020, we have had a very relaxed period for tattoo inks. Only 1 alert has been issued for tattoo inks: an article manufactured in the USA, which did not comply with the Resolution ResAP(2008)1 on safety requirements and criteria for tattooing and permanent make-up by containing potentially carcinogenic ingredients.

These types of alerts are quite frequent in the Rapex System and are usually linked to 2 or 3 US manufacturing companies.

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Products Notified by the Spanish authorities

Once again, the number of articles withdrawn by the Spanish authorities is very low. In the entire 4th Quarter of 2020, Spain notified only 1 product through Rapex Alerts. We believe that the Spanish authorities should be self-critical and, once and for all, return to active participation in EU consumer alerts.

Rapex Report 4th Quarter 2020

Typologies of recalled cosmetic products

Finally, we have tried to divide the 28 cosmetic items withdrawn by the Rapex System during the 4th Quarter 2020 by types of products.

Throughout the Quarter, the most frequently withdrawn cosmetic products were skin whitening creams and lotions. Thirteen alerts were published on this type of product, accumulating 46.4% of the warnings for cosmetics. In the results, we can see that the types of products The most withdrawals are:

• • the tooth whitening articles (21.4% of the total)
  • the SHOWER GELS (10,7%)
  • the wet wipes (7,1%).

We hope you enjoyed the Rapex Report 3rd Quarter 2020. You can share our research with anyone who might find it interesting.

Stay tuned for the Rapex reports that the European Commission publishes every Friday. And do not hesitate to contact us for more information about the regulation and safety of cosmetic products in the EU.