Unsafe electrical products discovered in Aberdeen operation

20 June 2018

Consumers have been urged to put safety first when purchasing electrical items after £70,000 of dangerous good were taken out of circulation in Aberdeen.

Following investigation by Trading Standards officers in the city, more than 5,000 phone chargers and travel adaptors were removed from sale and voluntarily handed over for destruction.

Officers visited retailers and importers to examine products and provide advice on compliance with safety regulations.

During tests a number of products failed basic safety checks, exposing faults that could have resulted in electric shock for users.

Graeme Paton, Trading Standards manager in Aberdeen, said: “This operation has removed thousands of dangerous products from sale in Aberdeen. As is the case here, cheap imports are often poorly made and not in accordance with the high standards of safety that are expected. For these traders this represents a significant investment in stock that will now be destroyed.

“One product identified by officers, an international travel adaptor sold under various brand names, has been the subject of product recalls in a number of countries across Europe. This product presents a significant risk of electric shock because live pins could be accessed when it was plugged in.

“Consumers are advised to only buy chargers and adaptors made by recognised manufacturers and from trusted sellers, be it online or on the high street. Trading Standards will continue to monitor businesses to ensure compliance of goods will take all necessary actions to ensure that consumers are protected.”

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the adaptor identified and return it to the retailer. Further information about this product, along with further advice on the safety of electrical products, can be found on the website of Electrical Safety First: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2015/12/universal-travel-adaptor/

Unsafe goods can be reported to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.