Dangerous goods under control: Luxembourg increases vigilance through the Safety Gate system

The European Safety Gate rapid alert system, in place since 2003, has become a key tool for warning of non-food products that pose a serious health or safety risk. In 2024, it will record 4,137 alerts - 21% more than in 2023 and almost double the number in 2022. This figure reflects both increased risks and more active monitoring by EU countries.

Luxembourg, represented in the system through ILNAS (the national institute for standardisation and product safety), submitted 19 notifications, compared to 13 a year earlier. Although this is only a small fraction of the European total, the number of alerts continues to grow and the nature of the incidents is worrying.

79% of all Luxembourg signals were for cosmetics, highlighting the vulnerability of consumers in this category. The list included:

• five types of lip pencils and six eyeliners,
• creams, masks and shower gel.

The products originated mainly in the USA and Germany. The products contained banned substances, in particular PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which has been banned in the EU since 2020 due to its carcinogenic effects. In other cases, the cause was a dangerous strain of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes irritations and even infections on contact with skin or mucous membranes.

Not just cosmetics

Two bicycle helmets and one car also made the list. A possible transmission defect has been identified for the car, which could affect safety.

The warning about Goodyear tyres manufactured in Luxembourg in spring 2024 has attracted particular attention. Due to a manufacturing error, the tread may flake off at high speeds, risking loss of control and serious accidents. The announcement was particularly sensitive because Goodyear is already under investigation in France, where the company is suspected of covering up defects that led to fatal crashes. A court hearing is scheduled for 13 May in Besançon.

Since the beginning of 2025, 16 products have already been put on the list of dangerous products, among them about ten tattoo inks withdrawn from the market. Cases with baby nipples and toys that do not comply with regulations have also been recorded. The threat is suffocation, toxic content, low-quality materials.

Luxembourg has submitted a total of 290 notifications through Safety Gate in the last ten years, taking an active, albeit not the most visible, position in the pan-European control system.