Online trade under control: Dangerous products in the sights of the authorities!

Online trade under control: Dangerous products in the sights of the authorities!

Online trade in Austria is booming and attracting more and more buyers who acquire a variety of toys from toys to food. According to a report by Today.at this trend is associated with considerable risks. In recent years, many users have bought products that have not existed in EU countries, which makes it difficult to control. In 2023, about two thirds of the Austrians regularly bought online, while market surveillance is mainly focused on inpatient shops. Shocking 80 percent of the control samples of toys, cosmetics and nutritional supplements showed security deficiencies. There are also forbidden ingredients such as lithium and mercury found in food supplements bought online.

challenges of market surveillance

The monitoring of the market faces major challenges, such as "https://www.bau.de/de/themen/monitoring-evaluation/marktueberwachung-produktsicherheit/marktueberwachung.html"> baua.de . Producers often save on the safety of their goods, which is potentially hazardous to health. In stationary trade, on the other hand, the controls show a lower complaint rate. In order to ensure security in online trade, market surveillance authorities are increasingly relying on modern technologies such as AI in order to effectively monitor and control products purchased online. These approaches are crucial to identify dangerous goods in good time and to take it from the market.

Overall, the increase in online trading not only harbors opportunities, but also massive dangers for consumers. The authorities have to deal even more intensively with the risks that the use of such platforms brings, especially when it comes to the health and safety of the citizens. Effective protective measures can only be realized through national and European cooperation to preserve consumers from unsafe products.