20,000+ toner cartridges seized in Italy

20,000+ toner cartridges seized in Italy and importer fined €43,000 ($51,130) as new market surveillance systems kick in.

The Ravenna offices of the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency and the Guardia di Finanza detained a container with over 20,000 toner cartridges inside. The detention was also reported to the Italian market surveillance authority (MSA).

The Recycler understands from local sources that the toner cartridges included chips and incorrect labelling of the manufacturer/importer responsible for the product’s safety. They also reported that the Italian importer had never registered as an importer of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

Customs required the importer to label the toner cartridges correctly. They also received a reduced fine of €43,000 ($51,130) before placing the toner cartridges on the market.

The Port of Ravenna is a leading port in Italy for its trade with the markets of the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea and plays an important role as regards trade with the markets of the Middle and Far East.

New EU wide market surveillance regulations came into force on 16 July 2021 to harmonise and strengthen market surveillance in Europe and apply to almost all non-food products. The new rules include cross-border powers and the exchange of information between MSA’s.

MSA’s now monitor and act to ensure that only market compliant products enter the EU. They also carry out more stringent checks to ensure accountability of the responsible economic operators and the inclusion of the fulfilment service provider (online market platforms) as an economic operator. In turn, they may also be inspected by market surveillance authorities.

All products sold in the EU now require an EU based responsible economic player (e.g., an authorised representative). Fulfilment service providers and manufacturers, their authorised representatives or importers, are collectively referred to as responsible economic players. Suppose no manufacturer, authorised representative or importer exists within the EU. In that case, the marketplace operators or fulfilment service providers are responsible.

“Placing on the market” has been better defined. If a product is available online and an offer is made to an EU domiciled end-user, it will be deemed to have been placed on the market and subject to MSR.

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