EU in Agreement with Amazon, eBay to Tackle Dangerous Product Listings

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Commission has signed an agreement with four major online retailers to combat the listing of dangerous products on Europe's online shopping sites.

The pledge covers products that could endanger consumer health in various ways, such as through fire hazard. It is part of broader Commission efforts to tackle an array of dangerous or illegal content online.

AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and Rakuten-France agreed to remove dangerous product listings within two days of being notified by authorities and respond to customer notifications within five days.

The Commission said 20 percent of sales in Europe were made online in 2016, increasing the prevalence of dangerous product listings.

"E-commerce has opened up new possibilities for consumers, offering them more choice at lower prices. Consumers should be just as safe when they buy online, as when they buy in a shop," commissioner Vera Jourova, who looks after consumer issues, said.

The companies also agreed to train sellers to comply with EU safety law and utilise the EU's Rapid Alert System to be proactive in the monitoring and preventing of unsafe product listings.

By Megan Dollar; Editors: Jane Merriman and Mark John.