Abstract

This paper analyses information pertaining to notifications of unsafe leather goods submitted to the EU Rapid Exchange of Information System (RAPEX) in the years 2004-2017. The number of leather goods reported in the system has been compared to total number of notifications on dangerous products classified in the category ʻClothing, textiles and fashion itemsʼ that includes leather goods. The notifications were analysed for the country of origin of leather goods as well as for the notifying country. This allows identification of countries from which the largest number of dangerous leather goods come, i.e., China, India and Pakistan, as well as countries most active in detecting them in their own domestic markets, i.e., Germany, Spain and Estonia. The article presents also results of surveys related to opinions of Polish consumers towards the safety of leather goods they purchase as well as their awareness about the presence and functioning of the RAPEX system. The research showed that most of Polish consumers cannot clearly indicate whether the leather goods they buy are safe for health or not. Moreover, most of Polish customers have no knowledge of the presence and functioning of the RAPEX system.