Rogue products report

Since launching its campaign to eliminate counterfeit and illegal PPE and safety products from the UK market, 15 products have been identified as not performing to the standard being claimed, 22 product certificates have been shown to be fraudulent or incorrect and enquiries to the BSIF have increased considerably.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to publicise full details because none of the above have been through the courts or the subject of admissions by delinquent manufacturers and importers.

For the BSIF to do so would open the possibility of expensive legal challenges. Nevertheless, all the products identified as making inaccurate claims on how they will perform have been advised to the appropriate authorities for investigation and the BSIF will publish any information as and when these enforcement organisations have completed their work. Whenever a fraudulent certificate is identified, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills [the competent authority in the UK] has been advised and these details have been passed to the EU Commission, who has then advised all EU member states.

All this amplifies the need for purchasers of safety equipment to be vigilant and check out the “bone-fides” of any products that seem to be exceptionally cheap or are being offered for sale by suppliers who are not “known”, including the internet. Products bought on the net may not need to satisfy local [UK or EU] directives and regulations because the actual “sale” might take place off-shore. If this is the case, it is the purchaser that will be held responsible for bringing the product “into the market” and all that that involves.

The BSIF is more than pleased to receive enquiries and help where it can although it is unable to carry out testing or represent any specific user interests. What it can do is provide advice and guidance on how users should proceed if they suspect that the safety products they are about to purchase are inadequate or illegally being offered for sale.