HC Deb 15 April 1981 vol 3 cc139-40W
Mr. Haynes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what additional measures he proposes to introduce to protect consumers from the recent increase in imports of dangerous electrical appliances, particularly defective electric hair curlers, from Far East sources.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

[pursuant to her reply, 10 April 1981, c. 385]: All domestic electrical appliances must comply with the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975, as amended, whether they are imported or manufactured in this country. My Department has recently received reports from local authorities that some hair-styling brushes imported from Hong Kong do not comply with these regulations. It is, of course, the duty of local authorities to enforce the regulations. However, my Department is asking importers, where they can be identified, for their assistance in dealing with this problem. I am glad to say also that the office of the Hong Kong Government in London has asked its Government to do what they can to prevent further exports to this country. I am issuing a public warning advising anyone who may have bought one of these brushes to have it checked for safety by his supplier or a qualified electrician before using it. I am not aware of any recent increase in imports of other dangerous electrical domestic appliances, but if the hon. Member has any examples I should like to know of them.