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EU ban on high-energy electrical appliances (29 August 2014)

Date: 29/08/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, EU ban on high-energy electrical appliances

A draft study into banning high-energy products such as hair dryers, kettles or DIY tools could mean a 30% reduction in the power used by these items.

The Telegraph reports that the EU is considering extending its ban on high-wattage equipment in the home, following a ban on high-energy vacuum cleaners.

Banning high-wattage personal grooming products such as hairdryers would make electrical gadgets more eco-friendly – but could put paid to high-speed grooming.

The new proposals are due to be announced in Spring 2015, meaning that some of the UK’s favourite high-energy products could face a ban.

Brussels caused widespread controversy when it banned Britain’s traditional light bulbs, and insisted that Britain use low-energy eco-light bulbs. Many consumers complained that they did not last as long as they were supposed to – and that in some cases, the light emitted was not as bright has high-energy bulbs they replaced.

The EU is now planning to address the issue of other electrical items which consume too much electricity, in a move to reduce consumption of energy across European member states.

EU laws currently in force cover larger electrical items such as TVs and white goods like refrigerators and vacuum cleaners.

However, smaller personal devices like hairdryers are exempt from current EU regulation.

The draft document recently drawn up has identified 30 electrical items which may be brought in line with current EU legislation on high-energy products – which are reported to include lawn mowers and smartphones.

The EU's Ecodesign Directive aims to fight climate change across EU member states.

The German EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that preventing consumers from buying high-wattage electrical gadgets helped tackle climate change. Speaking to German newspaper Bild about plans to limit the power of small personal electrical devices and lawnmowers, Mr Oettinger said:

“We haven't got round to these devices yet – we want curb power consumption.

“All EU countries agree that energy efficiency is the most effective method to reduce energy consumption and dependence on imports – and to improve the climate.

“Therefore there needs to be mandatory consumption limits for small electrical appliances.”

Some small electrical devices have also caused injury from overheating – recently consumers have been injured in a range of incidents, including mobile phone charges catching fire during use – and e-Cigarettes exploding while being charged or during use.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Faulty Goods Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise on how to make no win no fee claims for injuries sustained as a result of faulty goods or goods which malfunction, including:

• Baby products (bouncers, cots, nappies)
• DIY products (mowers, tools, drills)
• Electrical devices (hairdryers, chargers, White Goods)
• Electronic devices (E-cigarettes, mobile phones, PC peripherals)
• Home furnishings (chemicals in sofas, dangerous hinges, roller cord blinds)
• Sports equipment (harnesses, safety equipment)
• Toys (faulty electrical toys, sharp or easily swallowed toy components).

Duncan Lewis can also advise on making a no win no fee claim involving faulty building work or installations, such as negligent work on boilers leading to injury – or construction work in the home which causes injury as a result of negligent or poor work.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Faulty Goods Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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