Minister of Trade and Industry, Endrit Shala put into operation the website for reporting dangerous products “RAPEX Kosovo”. Shala said he is pleased to launch this project, which enables rapid notification through the website of products that pose a serious threat to consumers of the Republic of Kosovo.
"For us, the highest priority is consumer`s protection and from today, with the launch of this site, our customer will be more protected, safer in consuming products that are traded in our country. Ministry of Trade and Industry continues to be dedicated and persistent in accomplishing its mission, market control and consumer protection," said Minister Shala.
Shala announced that in order to protect the consumer, during 2018, MTI withdrew from the market unsafe products in the amount of 16.213.00 pieces. Of them children's toys (in the amount of 15,077 pieces) and electrical appliances (in the amount of 1,135 pieces).
"Also during this year, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in accordance with the legal obligations deriving from the Law on Technical Requirements and Conformity Assessment, has established the Market Supervisory Coordination Body, which will coordinate market surveillance activities in order that products placed on the market of the Republic of Kosovo to be safe for consumers," said the minister.
Minister Shala said that this website will help to ensure that the public is aware of the existence, responsibilities and identity of each national authority for market surveillance and how each authority can be contacted.
"And as a result of this, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in cooperation with the EU-funded "Free Movement of Goods" project, has taken steps to create a system "RAPEX KOSOVA", which system is in accordance with best practices of market surveillance, thus implementing a part of the SAA and preparing for the membership of the Republic of Kosovo in the EU, "he said.
Meanwhile, the chief inspector and chairman of the Market Surveillance Coordination Body, Lulzim Syla said that the purpose of the website is to provide consumers with security.
"This website aims to provide public information to inspection authorities that monitor the safety of products in the market and especially the reporting of non-food hazardous products found in the Kosovo market" Syla said.
Head of Cooperation at the European Union Office in Kosovo, Luigi Brusa, said that consumer protection should be the primary task of responsible institutions, also asking consumers to pay attention to what they consume.
