Shoppers advised to put safety top of Christmas list
So far this year, 11 children’s toys and 10 electrical products have been recalled from the Irish market over safety concerns
Print8 December 2015
Always check for the CE Mark when buying electrical products or toys this festive season, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has advised Christmas shoppers.
By law, all toys and electrical products for sale in Ireland must display the CE safety mark, to show that they comply with the Irish and European standards. However so far this year, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has recalled 11 children’s toys and ten electrical products have been removed from the Irish market over safety concerns.
Between 2005 and 2014, there have been 326 fatal fires in Ireland, claiming the lives of 366 people. In the 158 instances where the cause of the fire was known, electrical appliances were suspected in 28 fatal fires (18% of cases) while a further 3% of fatal fires were attributed to electric blankets. In 2011 alone, 241 fires in Ireland were caused by electrical equipment.
“Most of the products and services we encounter every day are governed by standards. But unfortunately, due to counterfeiting or the misuse of the CE Mark, there is never a 100% guarantee that a product bearing the mark is safe,” said CEO of NSAI, Maurice Buckley. The association is subsequently advising consumers to familiarise themselves with the CE Mark and always buy products from trustworthy shops and online outlets.
Worryingly, the black market is now costing the Irish economy €1.4bn a year, with one-third of black market activity occurring over the peak Christmas shopping period. The Revenue Commissioners recently confirmed the seizure of counterfeit Disney goods, including ‘Frozen’ DVDs and toys, as well as fake Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy handsets and hundreds of fake GHD hair straighteners.
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