Crackdown on unapproved electrical goods

NSW Fair Trading has warned rogue traders that selling unapproved electrical goods will not be tolerated in NSW and serious penalties await any trader failing to heed the message. NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox also urged consumers to check their electrical goods are compliant with Australian standards by looking for the mark of approval. “Unapproved electrical goods can be potential death traps, putting consumers at serious risk,” he said.

“Penalties are extensive, ranging from on-the-spot fines of $500 to prosecutions carrying maximum penalties of $87,500 and/or two years imprisonment for an individual and $875,000 for a corporation,” said Mason-Cox.

The dangers of using non-compliant electrical products at home have been further highlighted by the recent death of a Central Coast woman using a faulty USB phone charger, said the chief executive officer of the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Suresh Manickam. Manickam urged all state and Commonwealth regulators to work with the industry to ensure that compliance levels are appropriately set. The other critical aspect to this is that once regulations are set, regulators must ensure that compliance is maintained. Had this product met the Australian standards, it is unlikely that this event would have occurred, Manickam added.

NSW Fair Trading believes the woman received a high-voltage shock while wearing headphones, talking on the phone and operating a laptop, plugged into a wall socket. The suspect USB cable was allegedly purchased for $4.95 from a shop in Campsie in Sydney, which was raided and shut down last week by NSW Fair Trading where hundreds of non-compliant USB chargers, travel adaptors and power boards were seized.

Mason-Cox said NSW Fair Trading inspectors continue to raid a number of stores and seize unapproved electrical goods.

Fair Trading inspectors recently undertook targeted visits at shops and markets in Haymarket, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Ashfield, Marrickville and Eastwood. This follows inspections in recent days in Dapto, Wollongong, Auburn, Silverwater, Parramatta, Hurstville and Campsie.

Inspectors have seized a number of travel adaptors from stores in Bankstown and Haymarket. Businesses were warned to remove all unapproved products from sale. Investigations into both businesses continue.

“Inspectors are in the field monitoring compliance and can arrive at a store, unannounced, anytime, anywhere. I have instructed Fair Trading to ensure unapproved electrical goods are seized from traders in breach of the law,” said Mason-Cox. “Anyone importing or selling these products must understand it carries very significant personal and professional risks for their business.”

Consumers should always check with the supplier to ensure the items comply. One way for a trader to be certain that a non-declared article meets the minimum safety requirements is by obtaining a Certificate of Suitability number from Fair Trading. Applications must be made to the Commissioner for Fair Trading including the prescribed fee. Fair Trading may ask for a sample for examination.