During the 1970's and 80's the interest in product safety has grown in Sweden. This in turn has led to an examination of the product safety legislation. On July 1, 1989, a new general Product Safety Act will come into force. Its aim is to prevent hazardous goods and services from causing personal injury or damage to property. Under the Act an entrepreneur can: --be enjoined to provide safety information --be prohibited from further provision of the hazardous goods and services --be enjoined to provide cautionary information --be ordered to recall hazardous goods and services.
A Governmental Committee has recently investigated whether or not rules concerning prohibition of export goods entailing a direct danger to life, health, or safety should be introduced and, in that event, how they should be devised. The Committee proposed certain rules in December 1988. This proposal will be circulated for comment whereupon it will be decided within the Government Offices how to proceed with the work on the proposal.
There already exists a comprehensive product regulation system in Sweden. Its overall aim is to prevent hazardous products from reaching the users. Regulations stipulating intervention against hazardous products already in the user's possession do exist but are few in number.
Matters pertaining to the safety of consumer products have been dealt with at a relatively late stage in the market legislation. This took place in connection with the general section concerning product safety which was provided in the Marketing Act of 1975. This section now provides that entrepreneurs who supply consumers with products for individual use which entail a special risk for injury to persons or properties may be prohibited from continuing to do so by the Market Court, the adjudicating forum in market disputes. The same holds for offering by payment the right of using products and, from January 1, 1986, also for cases where services are rendered against payment. There also exists a rule on injunction of safgty information. If an entrepreneur supplies products without giving information of special importance for preventing the products from causing personal injury or property damage, he can be enjoined to do so when subsequently supplying the products.