This recommendation was adopted at the session on 14 January 2004 on the basis of a report by Mr. J.P Stephan
Assisted by Mr. Guy le Goff, Committee technical adviser, in accordance with Article R.224-4 of the Consumption Code.

The Commission recommends that:

1 . The Public Authorities

With respect to solid fuel barbecues, the Commission notes that the compulsory nature of the French standard has until now guaranteed the safety of such products. Consequently, it asks the Ministry of Industry to issue a further decree making standard EN 1860-1 compulsory notwithstanding the principle of “mutual recognition” and as a result of the obvious threat to public health represented by the sale of non-compliant devices.
Moreover, it formulates the desire that the future European standard for single use barbecues (EN 1860-4) should also be made compulsory due to the danger that these products represent for their users and the environment.
The Commission asks the pubic authorities, and notably the Prefectoral authorities, to strictly oversee the use and distribution of these products.

2 . Professionals

The Commission notes that no standard requirements provide for lateral impact tests on barbecues. In addition to tests carried out on a sloping surface, the CSC accordingly recommends that the French standardization authorities should without delay revise European standards NF EN 498 (gas barbecues), NF EN 60335-1 (domestic electrical appliances and equivalent) and NF EN 1860–1 (solid fuel devices) so that stability tests may be carried out on such devices on a horizontal surface.

Furthermore, the Commission recommends that the French authorities charged with contributing to the drafting of the future European standard on firelighting products should request that the exact composition of such products be printed on their packaging.

The Commission recommends that suppliers of lava rock for gas barbecues and manufacturers of such devices should provide more information to users about the quantity of lava rock (by weight or volume) required for safe use. Such information would also include details of the need for a uniform distribution, upkeep, approximate number of uses, etc.

3 . Consumers

By virtue of the precautionary principle, and in order to avoid a build up of certain dangerous by-products in the body, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as benzopyrene, the Commission recommends that consumers who frequently use charcoal barbecues should position the barbecue grill as far as possible from the heat source, or opt for a vertical barbecue in order to prevent the ingestion of excessive quantities of PAHs. The frequency with which consumers cook fatty meats on barbecues should be kept low.

The CSC recommends that such intensive users should preferably burn purified charcoal containing over 80% carbon in order to restrict the formation of benzopyrene during cooking.

The CSC also reminds users that it is unwise to revive the flame of a charcoal barbecue using a firelighting product or any other flammable product. It recommends that consumers should avoid indoor use of these devices due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, regardless of whether gas or solid fuel barbecues are used.

For reasons of both safety and hygiene, the CSC advises consumers to maintain their equipment properly by regularly cleaning cooking grills and drip trays on electric barbecues.

Lastly, it reminds consumers that due to the risk of fire, a barbecue should not be used in an enclosed space such as a garage, nor when it is windy, and that in all cases children should be kept at a safe distance. The fire must be properly supervised and completely extinguished after use.

For the complete text in English please open the attached file:
The recommendation can also be consulted in full in French on the CSC website: http://www.cscnet.org by using the key word ‘barbecue’.