Unsatisfactory safety characteristics of lighting chains on the market

Market Surveillance Agency of BiH and market inspections of the BiH entities and Brčko District of BiH conducted proactive market surveillance of lighting chains during the period from 1st November 2021 to 28th February 2022. The objective of the surveillance was to check the safety characteristics of lighting chains, i.e. whether and to what extent these products pose a danger to the safety of users, as well as whether there have been any improvements in safety of these products compared to the results of surveillance in 2019. Unfortunately, the results of laboratory tests show that there has been no improvement, since a high percentage of dangerous products was recorded again. 

Lighting chains are considered safe if they comply with the requirements specified by the Order on electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (Official Gazette of BiH, 98/09) and the standards BAS EN 60598-1 and BAS EN60598-2-20.

During the implementation of proactive surveillance, 14 inspection controls were conducted. Inspectors performed administrative and visual control of the products on the market and took 9 samples for laboratory testing. Laboratory tests showed that 7 samples (77,8%) did not comply with the safety requirements of the Order on electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits.

Risk assessment showed that all the non-compliant models of lighting chains pose serious risk to consumers, since they pose risk of electric shock and fire.

Based on the undertaken surveillance activities and ordered measures, 7 models of non-compliant lighting chains (total of 3404 products) were withdrawn from the market and destroyed.