Risk categories: what the reason stated in a recall means
Every recall notice states a reason. It is not free text: the authorities select from a standardised list of categories. Below we explain what each one means and which ones appear most often.
The most frequent categories in the European Union
According to the official Safety Gate figures for 2024, the three risk categories notified most often at Union level were:
- Chemical risk, in 49% of notifications
- Injuries, in 14%
- Environment, in 8%
That means almost half of the alerts in the Union concern a chemical substance rather than a mechanical defect.
The three product categories with the most notifications were cosmetics at 36%, toys at 15% and electrical appliances at 10%.
What each category means
Chemical risk. The product contains a substance above the permitted limit, or a substance that is not permitted at all. It appears often in cosmetics, jewellery and toys.
Injuries. This covers mechanical causes: breakage, sharp edges, instability, a part coming loose.
Choking on a small part. This concerns parts that detach and can be swallowed. It is among the most frequent categories in toys.
Strangulation. This concerns cords, tapes and straps, mainly in children clothing and baby care articles.
Suffocation. This differs from choking: it concerns obstruction of breathing, for example by a film or a soft material.
Electric shock. Insufficient insulation, accessible live parts, incorrect earthing.
Burns and fire. Overheating, ignition, materials that do not withstand the operating temperature.
Damage to hearing or sight. This appears in toys with sound and in products with a light source, such as lasers.
Environment. The product contains substances that create a risk during disposal or release into the environment.
Electromagnetic disturbance. The product interferes with the operation of other devices.
The picture shifts from country to country
The same figures show that the mix differs significantly between states, because what is inspected also differs.
In Germany the most frequently notified product categories were motor vehicles at 50%, toys at 15% and jewellery at 7%. The most frequent risks were injuries at 46%, chemical risk at 26% and fire at 17%.
In Cyprus the most frequent categories were toys at 39%, clothing and fashion items at 29% and hobby and sports equipment at 17%. The most frequent risks were chemical at 33%, injuries at 27% and choking at 17%.
Comparing the two with the Union figures shows why one statistic alone is not enough: at Union level chemical risk comes first, in Germany injuries come first. The Commission publishes the same breakdown for the remaining member states in the annual Safety Gate report.
What these categories do not include
The categories above belong to the Safety Gate, that is to non-food products. Microbiological risks, allergens and foreign bodies in food are notified through the RASFF and have their own terminology.