§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the methods used by the United States Government for ensuring that imported electrical goods comply with domestic electrical safety legislation.
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§ Mr. ChannonElectrical goods in the United States must comply with basic regulations set out in the United States code of federal regulations. In addition, although not mandatory in any state, electrical goods marketed in the United States generally bear the seal of approval of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The seal of approval is widely regarded as a guarantee of quality and safety and is effectively a commercial necessity for both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Testing for purposes of the UL seal of approval can be carried out only in the United States.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations his Department makes to trading standards authorities regarding the provision of facilities to test imported electrical goods whose safety is suspect.
§ Mr. FletcherMy Department does not formally make recommendations on the facilities required by local authorities to carry out tests on imported electrical goods, although a wide range of topics concerning product safety are discussed from time to time. However, in the majority of cases where a trading standards authority decides to prosecute a supplier of dangerous electrical goods, the authority is required to use one of three test houses approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State. These test houses have been approved for their expertise in interpreting the requirements and the tests that are needed under the provisions of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assurances he has sought from the Yugoslavian authorities that electric lamps being supplied 249W by that country to the United Kingdom are manufactured in compliance with the electrical equipment safety regulations.
§ Mr. FletcherNone. It is the responsibility of the importer of electric lamps manufactured in Yugoslavia to ensure that they comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's practice in seeking to ensure that imported electrical consumer goods from outside the European Economic Community comply with the low voltage directive; and what information he has as to the comparable measures taken in France.
§ Mr. FletcherElectrical products which operate within a specified voltage range are required to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations and thereby achieve the level of safety required by the low voltage directive. The regulations apply to electrical goods offered for supply in the United Kingdom, wherever manufactured.
My officials have recently discussed the laws applicable to the safety of goods with their French counterparts and concluded that the measures adopted in that country are not significantly different from those in the United Kingdom.