The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) last year discovered more than 2,900 household appliances sold on major e-commerce platforms in Singapore. These items were listed on popular e-commerce sites, including Amazon, Carousell, Ezbuy, Lazada, Qoo10 and Shopee. They were not registered with the CPSO or lacked the valid SAFETY Mark in accordance with regulatory requirements; the household appliances were classified as “Controlled Goods”.
These findings are a result of the CPSO’s market surveillance efforts and investigations of consumer complaints received between January to November 2021.
The top five categories of unregistered household appliances sold online, which did not meet regulatory requirements were:
- AC adaptors
- Portable socket outlets
- Cooking appliances (toasters, grills and hotplates)
- Hair care appliances (hair dryers)
- Liquid heating appliances (kettles and hot water dispensers)
In coordination with the CPSO, these e-commerce platforms have since delisted the unregistered household appliances. Fines or warnings have also been issued to sellers of these products. Under CPSO and regulations of relevant authorities, any seller found guilty of peddling unregistered controlled goods are liable for a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or both.
According to the Director of CPSO Ms Beatrice Wong, “Amid the year-end shopping season, we urge consumers to stay vigilant and conduct due checks on products and sellers when shopping online. This is particularly important when buying household appliances classified as controlled goods, as those that do not meet the safety requirements can pose fire, mechanical and electrical hazards. Consumers should always look for the SAFETY Mark, which helps them identify products that meet safety requirements and are suitable for local use. These good practices will go a long way towards keeping yourself, your friends, and your family safe”.
Should you encounter any product safety-related issues for online purchases of household appliances, report to the CPSO at 6898-1800 or email consumerproductsafety@enterprisesg.gov.sg. For more information on safe products online or to access the latest list of recalled products in Singapore, visit www.consumerproductsafety.gov.sg
