# Market surveillance

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Market surveillance is the systematic enforcement activity through which public authorities check whether products already placed on the market comply with applicable safety, health, environmental, and consumer protection requirements.

Market surveillance is the systematic enforcement activity through which public authorities check whether products already placed on the market comply with applicable safety, health, environmental, and consumer protection requirements. At the border, it operates in close coordination with customs controls: authorities can stop consignments, order laboratory testing, and issue recalls, seizures, or destruction orders where non-compliance is established. Within the EU, national market surveillance authorities share intelligence on dangerous products through the Safety Gate rapid alert system—formerly known as RAPEX—to prevent their circulation across member states. For importers and freight forwarders, the practical risk is clear: missing conformity documentation, absent CE markings, or unregistered substances can trigger costly border holds and outright cargo rejection.

**Source:** [https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate](https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Market surveillance |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 114 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate |

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