The German TÜV Rheinland is to take over the Swedish Bilprovningen. According to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M), it is a responsible company with opportunities to develop Bilprovningen.
However, TÜV Rheinland is also known for its role in a scandal where thousands of women worldwide received substandard breast implants. The implants – called PIP implants – were a cheaper variant approved by TÜV Rheinland, a certification company, despite defects.
The scandal broke out in 2010 in France, where several court cases are ongoing. In 2018, 400 Swedish women with the implants were entitled to compensation from the company.
I know that the government wants to privatize most things, but selling out the Swedish vehicle inspection to a German company notorious for a breast implant scandal, that really takes the prize. The government must rethink, says V leader Nooshi Dadgostar to Aftonbladet.
The government responds that it is aware of the scandal but that German courts have deemed TÜV Rheinland to have acted "responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and standards".
"The company has met the requirements on buyers that the state sets regarding ethical conduct", the government writes to Aftonbladet.
PIP Implants
TT
PIP breast implants were manufactured by the now-defunct French company Poly Implant Prothèse.
PIP implants were recalled in Sweden in 2010 following a decision by the Medical Products Agency. These implants were not allowed to be released onto the Swedish market, according to the decision.
After the announcement, clinics that had implanted the implants were urged to contact affected patients to inform them about the current state of knowledge and the risks associated with keeping the implants. The clinics were also recommended to remove the implants.
Source: Medical Products Agency
