More than 80% of things offered through on-line marketplaces fail security exams
More than 80% of things purchased from on-line marketplaces have failed security exams.
The class with probably the most issues was toys, adopted by small mains-powered electricals.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) examined 2,260 merchandise offered through on-line marketplaces between October 2021 and September 2022.
It discovered that 1,832 of them – 81% – failed to satisfy security requirements.
Some of the toys failed as a result of they have been thought-about to be strangulation hazards for kids below 36 months of age.
Electrical items failed as a result of they posed a danger of electrical shocks or electrical fires.
Cosmetics have been additionally examined, as have been merchandise containing button batteries which routinely appeared in remembers and alerts, had poor evaluations or seemed to be of low high quality within the on-line pictures.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute stated the “sheer volume and proportion of goods that aren’t meeting basic safety checks is appalling”.
Read extra: ‘Don’t buy’: Dangerous carbon monoxide alarms found on four major online marketplaces
Its chief government, John Herriman, added: “It is concerning to see this level of products failing safety testing, particularly when the highest category of non-compliance is toys.”
Lesley Rudd, chief government of security charity Electrical Safety First, stated the proof confirmed that “online marketplaces are a hotbed for dangerous and non-compliant goods”.
She continued: “Decisive action has never been so urgent. Online marketplaces cannot be relied upon to self-regulate the issue of illegal and harmful goods on their platforms.
“The authorities should act immediately to lastly drive them to take steps to make sure that these items offered through their websites, from which they revenue, are protected.”
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Jerry Burnie, head of compliance on the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), stated: “The BTHA have tested over 550 products in the last six years and have been pushing for a change in the law to ensure that the online marketplaces are jointly and severally liable for products sold by third parties via their platforms, which otherwise would not have access to the UK market.
“This is a scenario that has not improved over these six years. We are happy that the OPSS’s personal figures have now confirmed our findings and hope that ample motion might be taken to make sure shoppers are shielded from these harmful and unsafe merchandise.”