Product complaints can be submitted online in CARICOM states

Consumers living with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations are now able to access a online portal to alert authorities about dangerous non-food products .

All fifteen member states can log in to the CARREX Online Electronic Platform by visiting carrex.caricom.org.

Registered national contact points, national authorities and economic operators will be able to transmit notifications on the platform, which was developed with assistance under the 10th European Development Fund, CARICOM Single Market and Economy Economic Integration Programme.

Any product that has caused harm – or has the potential to cause harm – can be logged on the website.

The facility can also be used by the public to submit complaints to consumer protection agencies on defective products.

The system functions as a general alert and surveillance structure, built to work in emergency situations with rapid exchanges of information between the member states and the CARICOM Secretariat

This is especially useful when the presence of a product which represents a “grave and immediate risk to consumers’ health and safety has been detected”, according to a press release.

It enables the national authorities to act immediately where a serious and immediate danger has been registered to circulate non-food and pharmaceutical products on the national territory.

Food and pharmaceutical items have been excluded from this system, as procedures that monitor these products tend to have a higher level of stringency and are regulated by different processes.