Exploding phone charger on danger list

Tag : way charger

AN exploding mobile phone charger, reported by Wirral Euro-MP ChrisDavies, has made its way onto an EU-wide list of dangerousproducts. RAPEX is a rapid response system that allows EU countries to shareinformation about products posing a health and safety risk. The system alerts countries to these products so they can bequickly removed from sale and customers alerted to the dangers.

A record number dangerous toys and electrical products have beenbanned from sale in local shops thanks to the scheme. Over 1600 dangerous products were reported last year and 100 ofthese were found in British shops.

Toys were the most common offenders with electric shock and risk ofinjury or choking the main reason for reporting. The majority of problems came from imported goods, with China thecountry of origin in around half the cases. Wirral Euro-MP Chris Davies has first-hand experience of the systemwhen he bought a mobile phone charger at the end of last year.

The device exploded scattering pieces of plastic across his livingroom. He said: "There was a massive bang and smoke started coming outfrom the charger. I was concerned and reported the device totrading standards.

The charger, which had been manufactured in China, failedelectrical tests and was added to the EU blacklist. Mr Davies claims the RAPEX system is an example of the EU workingat its best. He said: "If a toy in Spain is found to have the potential toseriously injure or even kill a child then the sooner we can ensureit is taken off British shelves the better."

So far this year Britain has reported a variety of dangerous goodsto the register. These range from a wooden train set with a risk oflead poisoning to hair straighteners that posed danger of anelectric shock. The system also protects British holidaymakers abroad. For example,a toy cow in Spain was withdrawn from sale as it was found to posea choking hazard, while joke cigarettes in Cyprus may lead torespiratory tract inflammation.