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Electrical appliance importer fined
Media Release
24 September 2009
Electrical appliance importer fined for breaching safety rules
Feng Bao International Trading Limited, an electrical appliance importer and wholesaler, pleaded guilty and was convicted in the Manukau District Court yesterday for breaching the Electricity Regulations and fined $1,050 and $130 costs.
Despite warnings from Energy Safety the company continued to supply electrical products without first establishing their safety.
The products Feng Bao International Trading supplied included low cost touch table lamps, multi-plug adaptors and banned Christmas lights, all considered to be high risk. These were never intended to be used in New Zealand and were all fitted with non-approved plugs. The appliances presented a safety risk to anyone who used them.
“This importer showed little interest in the safety of the electrical products it sold and disregarded public safety. Being low cost items does not mean you should compromise safety,” said Richard Lamb, Energy Safety Compliance Officer.
“Touch table lamps, by the very way they are operated, can pose a significant safety risk and it was also alarming to see how poor the construction of some of the Christmas lights was.
“Retailers should be cautious about who they buy stock from and always ask how the electrical safety has been established.
“We regularly monitor importers and wholesalers. Our aim is to encourage them to take responsibility for the products they supply. Not establishing if something is safe before you supply it, not only puts your customers at risk, but your business to,” Richard Lamb said.
Energy Safety wants to get the message across to importers that they need to ensure the electrical safety of products before they supply them. The rules are in place to protect consumers and encourage good business practices.
The successful prosecution was taken by Energy Safety, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development. The company had breached Electricity Regulations 107(a), 107(aa) and 107(b).
Energy Safety is committed to ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas. It undertakes an ongoing programme of investigations and audits of electrical and gas appliances.
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