§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to secure the safety of electrical equipment made in Europe which does not conform to British safety standards.
§ Mr. ForthThe safety of most electrical equipment traded throughout the European Community is judged on its compliance with the low voltage directive, implemented in the United Kingdom through the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989. Conformity may be established in a number of ways, primarily through harmonised European standards or, in their absence, by compliance with national safety standards. However, neither method is mandatory. The fundamental requirement is for the product to be safe.