Amazon, Alibaba to withdraw dangerous goods

Four e-commerce giants, including Amazon and Alibaba, pledged yesterday to withdraw dangerous products more quickly from the market, the European Commission said.

It said the firms, which also included eBay and Rakuten-France, had pledged to act within two working days when notified by EU member states of a dangerous product and within five days when informed by consumers.

The pledge they signed will “further improve consumer safety,” said Vera Jourova, tasked with consumer affairs for the commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU.

“Consumers should be just as safe when they buy online as when they buy in a shop,” Jourova said in a statement.

The US and Chinese e-commerce firms and the Japanese Rakuten’s French subsidiary must offer a “clear way” for customers to report “dangerous products,” the commission said.