Further information:
RAPEX: System for rapid exchange of information (November 2007)
RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products, with the exception of food, pharmaceuticals and medical services.
It allows the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the European Commission of measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products that are posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers.
Every Friday, the European Commission publishes a weekly overview of the dangerous products that are reported by the national authorities (the RAPEX notifications). In this overview consumers can find information about dangerous products and the measures that were taken by the reporting country.
You will find further information about RAPEX and the weekly list of dangerours products under the following homepage of the European Commission:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives_en.cfm
German ban on smoking in public transport and public buildings (August 2007)
Smoking prohibited in trains, busses and taxis
From the 1st of September 2007 smoking will be prohibited in Germany in the field of public transport and in federal public buildings. The “Bundestag” (German parliament) together with the “Bundesrat” (upper house of the German parliament) have already passed the bill on the 6th of July 2007.
Smoking will not only be prohibited in all trains but also in all train stations. In case of contravention consumers can be fined between 5 and 1000 Euros. Any violation of this law can therefore become very expensive for consumers.
The law is not only applicable for all sorts of public transport but also for all federal public buildings. The rules must also be respected by all civil servants that are working in these buildings. It also includes the German “Bundestag” which means, that Members of Parliament and ministers are no longer entitled to smoke in the building.
Furthermore some of the German “Länder” have already passed bills that prohibit smoking in hospitals and schools. Some “Länder” have even decided to ban smoking in restaurants and pubs.
A ban on smoking in public buildings and public transport has already become reality in most of the countries within the European Union. According to a report of the World Health Organisation, smoking in public buildings is already prohibited in 60% of the European countries.
About 3.300 people die in Germany each year through passive smoking. German minister for Health Ulla Schmidt considers diseases caused through passive smoking as an avoidable risk. That’s why, according to her, Germany has taken a clear decision to ban smoking in most of the public sector.
Health care in Germany (July 2007)
Helpful links:
RAPEX - http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives_en.cfm
