19/08/2026
The Galician Regional Government is sharing its technical expertise in the field of consumer product safety through a training programme focused on toys, with a view to its future implementation by the Serbian authorities.
Today marks the end of a Serbian delegation’s visit to the Galicia Consumer Laboratory (LCG), which is part of the Xunta de Galicia and a leading organisation in the fields of market surveillance, technical testing and consumer protection.
Over the course of two days, the four Serbian representatives from the Institute of Public Health, which reports to the Ministry of Health, and the Market Inspection Service (MIFT), which reports to the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Affairs, have learnt about the various mechanisms and tools used by the LCG to monitor the market and ensure that products on the market are safe. Specifically, this visit focused on the surveillance of toys and electrical equipment, as the Serbian Government is planning to set up a laboratory of this kind.
This exchange took place within the framework of the European Union’s EU4IM project ‘European Union support for Serbia’s internal market’, led by FIAP, in collaboration with the Italian cooperation agency AICS and the Slovak cooperation agency SAIDC.
The Director-General for Trade and Consumer Affairs, Gabriel Alén; the Director of the Galician Institute for Consumers and Competition, Sol Vázquez; and the Director of the Galician Consumer Laboratory, Natalia Crespo, accompanied the delegation, which gained first-hand insight into the workings of the Galician Consumer Laboratory, including its technical organisation, workflows, sample management, the use of testing equipment and the interpretation of results for market surveillance purposes.
Alén and Vázquez emphasised the importance of technical cooperation between public administrations with the aim of improving product safety on the market and strengthening consumer protection.
Regional representatives have highlighted that the programme combines practical training in mechanical, physical and flammability testing of toys with technical exchange sessions, with a view to the future establishment of similar facilities in Serbia. In this regard, the visit addressed key aspects such as the suitability of the infrastructure, safety requirements, equipment control, sample traceability, working procedures, staff qualifications and the management of results.
Taking stock of the first half of this year, the Galician Consumer Laboratory has issued nearly fifty alerts regarding dangerous products. It is worth noting that it is the only official public laboratory in this field accredited by ENAC — the body that assesses technical competence in the areas of certification and inspection — and a national benchmark for both monitoring and issuing alerts in the field of consumer protection.
