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Presentation of the CONSUMER SAFETY COMMISSION (CSC)

THe CSC can advice you if you face dangerous products or services


WHAT IS THE CONSUMER SAFETY COMMISSION ?

Status

The CSC, an independent administrative authority, was created by law n° 83-660 of July 21th, 1983 (amended by law n° 2010-737, July 1st, 2010).

Composition and functioning of the Commission are ruled by decree n° 84-270 of April 11th, 1984, amended by decree of October 18th, 2010 (art. L. 534-4 to L. 534-10 and R. 534-5 to R. 534-17 of the French Consumer Code).

 

Composition

  • Led by a President appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers for a three-year period (renewable once), the Commission is composed of 15 members (magistrates, academics, experts, members of professional bodies and national consumer organisations), which are themselves appointed for a three-year period, renewable once.

 

  • A Government Commissioner, appointed by the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs, takes part in the Commission’s sessions too.


Missions

The CSC has three main missions:

  • TO give opinions on hazardous products or services, by making recommendations to public bodies and professionals on how to improve their work or the legal framework.
  • to inform consumers about the potential risks when using certain products or services.
  • to improve the statistical databases of everyday accidents.

CSC activities

Advice

  • To achieve its work, the CSC is not only allowed to make investigations with manufacturers, distributors, and importers, but also to conduct hearings with concerned parties. Moreover, the Commission is able to ask accredited laboratories for technical studies if necessary.
  • After this procedure and a collegiate decision, the CSC publishes advices recommending measures to improve products or services safety


Warn

  • The Commission may consider necessary to warn consumers against hazardous products or services. For that purpose, it can publish press articles or alert messages on its website for example.
  • The CSC is involved in steering some national prevention campaigns (anti-fire, anti-drowning campaigns) and sector-specific campaigns (“Do-it-yourself” / DIY dangers, supermarket accidents involving children).


Inform

The Commission publishes several documents for different audiences:

 

  • A bimonthly newsletter, in which one or two additional documents can be enclosed each year.
  • leaflets on specific risks, and more than 80 prevention guides available on the CSC website (“Votre sécurité au quotidien”).
  • An annual report (hard copies available on www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr).

 

Bringing a case to the CSC

Who can bring a case?

 

Any natural or legal person, public bodies, judicial authorities.

How to bring a case?

 

  • By writing a letter to the CSC’s President, Commission de la Sécurité des Consommateurs :

6, rue Louise Weiss

Télédoc 312

75703 PARIS CEDEX 13

FRANCE

 

It is necessary to give as many details (name of the product or service involved, circumstances and consequences of the accident) as possible.

 

  • Complete the electronic form “Signalez un problème de sécurité” (« Report a safety issue »).