Belarusian goods rejected in EU over health threats

Why a Belarusian rocking-horse is dangerous for French children, and electric warming pad and an extension cord are dangerous for Lithuanians?

In the informational reports of the European Commission “Zavtra tvoej strany” has found three cases when Belarusian goods in the EU market posed a serious risk to health and safety of buyers. Over the last ten years dangerous Belarusian goods were detected in Lithuania two times and once in France.

In 2011 French controlling agencies paid attention to a rocking-horse made in Belarus.

There could be only one conclusion: these goods fall short of European standards and are very dangerous. According to experts, playing with such a horse a child could be choked by taking in the mouth its little removable parts. A threat to be injured was also real, as wood didn’t have any coating. The seller and his suppliers were ordered to stop sales on a voluntary basis. Inspectors failed to find out who had produced the dangerous toy and how it found its way into the French shop.

Electrical products made in Belarus were seized from Lithuanian shops twice.

In the first case, in 2007, controlling agencies of the neighbouring country noticed an electric warming pad. As experts found out, its use could resulted in an electric shock, as its internal wire were not insulated. Besides, the power capacity of the pad was higher than the acceptable level.

And in 2013 sales of an extension cord by unknown manufacturer from Belarus were banned in Lithuania. The insulation of it was insufficient, and a user could receive an electric shock, and there was a fire risk.

It should be noted that China is the leader in number of goods dangerous for a consumer in the EU market. But the thing is, Belarusian exports are a drop in a ocean compared to Chinese ones, so complaints to our goods are very rare.