Member Article

Voluntary notifications on the rise indicate manufacturers are taking control

Voluntary product safety notifications in Europe rose in 2013 compared to previous years: a sign of increasing caution and consideration on the part of businesses.

Product recalls and safety notifications in Europe are relatively flat, with a rise in consumer goods recalled offset by a decline in food. Stericycle* ExpertSOLUTIONS has taken a detailed look into the landscape of voluntary and compulsory notifications in 2013 to produce the 2013 Stericycle European Index.

This in-depth analysis provides companies with information they need to minimise risk to the public and to their brand. Planning and executing product recalls effectively, quickly and with minimal disruption to the end-user is essential to maintain brand loyalty.

The trend has been pointing towards a more cautious approach amongst companies towards product quality. There are more voluntary notifications. The cost of leaving a potentially dangerous product on the market is significant especially when considering the risk to consumer safety.

Although every notification threatens a brand, it also provides an opportunity. Businesses that keep customer and relationship management in mind, will find that recalls can be a great chance to engage with the customer and build loyalty.

Stericycle ExpertSOLUTIONS gathers and tracks cumulative data from the primary European agencies that monitor safety notifications and recalls in the region. Data across the areas of food, automotive and consumer products is used to spot trends and draw conclusions about notification patterns in Europe.

Some of the key findings for notifications in 2013 are:

  • Voluntary product safety notifications went up by 29 per cent from 2012 to 2013
  • Voluntary notifications are prompted by factors ranging from compliance to customer care
  • The food industry saw the majority of notifications in 2013
  • New legislation coming into effect in 2015 will further strengthen consumers’ position and make new demands of companies

The Stericycle 2013 European Recall and Notification Index shows that companies that can execute an effective recall and replacement will win customer support. Those that do not will see boycotts of their products. For more details, figures and background information on legal regulations, please download the report.

*Stericycle is a multinational company with operations around the world and is listed on the NASDAQ (SRCL)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Farzad Henareh .

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