Some electronics are available cheaply online – too cheap, you might think. Because some of it does not meet EU safety criteria.
Whether it’s radio sockets that pose a risk of electric shock, faulty power-saving boxes or voltage converters called inverters that disrupt the police and fire brigade’s radio services: Illegal and dangerous electrical goods were available for purchase in Germany last year on a much larger scale than before.
In 2023, 8,100 types of devices were taken off the market, with a total number of more than 73 million, the Federal Network Agency announced on Thursday in Bonn. In 2022 there were 8,200 device types with a total number of 16 million. Manufacturer information that is necessary for sales in Germany is often missing.
“The trend of illegal and risky products from third countries continues,” explained authority President Klaus Müller. In collaboration with operators of online platforms, it was possible to stop the Internet sales of millions of products. “This is how we protect consumers from unauthorized products.”
Customs is involved
A reason for the increase was not given. The numbers fluctuate, in 2021 1936 offers were eliminated with a total number of 21 million. The different values are also due to the fact that in some years there are electronic items that are in large quantities in stock, while in other years there are products with only relatively low sales volumes.
In order to get the problem under control and minimize the risk to consumers from dangerous products, the Federal Network Agency is working hand in hand with customs. This reported 5,116 shipments of goods to the Bonn authorities last year, 92 percent of which were not approved after inspection. In 2022, 4,800 shipments of goods were reported, 91 percent of which were refused to be passed on.
Source: Stern
