Trading Standards issues mobile phone charger warning
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:44 pmTrading Standards issues mobile phone charger warning
Trading Standards officers in Argyll and Bute are warning residents not to buy cheap mobile phone chargers.
The advice comes after reports from across the UK of people suffering electric shocks and burns caused by unsafe chargers.
Mobile phone chargers need to comply with the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and British Standards, BS EN 60950 and BS 1363 part 1.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, Chair of Argyll and Bute Council’s Protective Services and Licensing Committee, said: “Unfortunately, mobile phone chargers are now being mass produced in Asia from as little as 3p per unit. These products fail to comply with this legislation.
“With the prices being so low it is little wonder that the market is being flooded with these items. But I would urge customers in Argyll and Bute to spend a little more money for a product which meets the required safety standards.
“I would also ask any retailer in the area who is stocking such items to remove them from the shelves.”
If mobile phone chargers do not comply with the required legislation, they are automatically deemed unsafe and could pose a threat of serious injury to anyone using them.
Furthermore, suppliers who supply mobile phone chargers which fail to comply with the above legislation could be committing a criminal offence, which could result in a prosecution report being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
When purchasing a mobile phone charger there are a few things that consumers can look for as an indication that the product is safe.
A CE mark must be visible either on the product or associated packaging, and the product must be clearly marked with the manufacturers brand name or trade mark.
However a product having these markings is not in itself a guarantee that it is safe.
Further visual checks can be carried out. BS1363 requires that the edge of the plug is no less than 9.5mm from the edge of the live and neutral pins. This is to ensure that fingers can not touch these pins whilst inserting or removing the plug from a socket.
If you have purchased a charger which you are concerned about, or see such an item for sale, please contact your local trading standards office.
Trading Standards officers in Argyll and Bute are warning residents not to buy cheap mobile phone chargers.
The advice comes after reports from across the UK of people suffering electric shocks and burns caused by unsafe chargers.
Mobile phone chargers need to comply with the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and British Standards, BS EN 60950 and BS 1363 part 1.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, Chair of Argyll and Bute Council’s Protective Services and Licensing Committee, said: “Unfortunately, mobile phone chargers are now being mass produced in Asia from as little as 3p per unit. These products fail to comply with this legislation.
“With the prices being so low it is little wonder that the market is being flooded with these items. But I would urge customers in Argyll and Bute to spend a little more money for a product which meets the required safety standards.
“I would also ask any retailer in the area who is stocking such items to remove them from the shelves.”
If mobile phone chargers do not comply with the required legislation, they are automatically deemed unsafe and could pose a threat of serious injury to anyone using them.
Furthermore, suppliers who supply mobile phone chargers which fail to comply with the above legislation could be committing a criminal offence, which could result in a prosecution report being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
When purchasing a mobile phone charger there are a few things that consumers can look for as an indication that the product is safe.
A CE mark must be visible either on the product or associated packaging, and the product must be clearly marked with the manufacturers brand name or trade mark.
However a product having these markings is not in itself a guarantee that it is safe.
Further visual checks can be carried out. BS1363 requires that the edge of the plug is no less than 9.5mm from the edge of the live and neutral pins. This is to ensure that fingers can not touch these pins whilst inserting or removing the plug from a socket.
If you have purchased a charger which you are concerned about, or see such an item for sale, please contact your local trading standards office.
