General product safety
Products placed on the market must be safe in the sense that, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions, they do not present the risk or only minimum risks for the period specified by the producer or for the period of normal use. Products placed on the market must also comply with the requirements of the relevant legislation.
Requirements for some products
Some products (e.g. toys, personal protective equipment, medical devices, lifts, etc.) must also meet special technical or other requirements.
Producers who make these products and other economic operators in the supply chain have a wide range of obligations.
If they consider that a product does not meet the requirements, they must bring the product into conformity or withdraw it from the market or circulation without undue delay. In addition they shall inform the competent authorities (most often the Czech Trade Inspection Authority, then e.g. the State Agricultural and Food Inspection or Czech Environmental Inspectorate).
Remedies
Where a product is withdrawn from circulation for safety reasons, the trader must offer the consumer an effective, free and timely remedy, at least two of the following three: repair of the withdrawn product, its replacement or a refund of at least the value of the withdrawn product.
The consumer also has other remedies. If the consumer encounters a dangerous product, he can file a complaint with the seller or initiate an inspection with the supervisory authority (see above). Furthermore, the consumer has the opportunity to claim compensation from the manufacturer or any other trader in the economic chain for damage caused by a dangerous product. If the damage was caused by a defect of the goods, the consumer may claim compensation according to specific rules, where the fault of the producer does not have to be proved. When applying this regime, the damage is reimbursed in the amount that exceeds an amount corresponding to EUR 500 according to the exchange rate announced by the Czech National Bank on the day the damage occurred; if this day is not known, then on the day on which the damage was discovered. Nevertheless, the consumer can claim compensation according to general rules; thus he could claim the full compensation, however, he could claim it only vis-a-vis the subject who caused the damage through his fault.