European Commission says fairy lights may not be safe
December 3, 2009
In what has been called a ‘wake up call’ the European Commission has just announced that fairy lights are a serious risk to people’s health and safety. The Commission decided to test Christmas fairy lights available in Slovakia, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Hungary and Germany and found that thirty percent of those tested could result in electric shocks or could cause a fire. Of the samples tested between November 2007 and May 2009 30.4 percent failed in terms of not being insulated properly, having faulty plugs and sub-standard wiring among other problems. As well as posing a risk to peoples health 40 percent of the fairy lights tested came well below par in terms of not meeting legal requirements such as sufficient labeling and comprehensive instruction on how they should be used properly.
Maglena Kuneva, a Consumer Safety Commissioner said the tests had involved sets of fairy lights in varying price categories. She said that it was paramount that people out shopping for fairy lights this Christmas could be confident that whilst looking for goods that were value for money they were in no way compromising their safety. She recognized the importance of consumer choice but said that goods should always come up to certain standards when it comes to health and safety.
Mrs. Kuneva went on to point out that although the industry as well as National authorities would be doing their best to stop sub-standard products making it onto shelves the consumer also had a responsibility to take the utmost care in choosing goods that would ensure that Christmas would be enjoyable as well as safe.
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