To protect the rights and interests of consumers, the Executive Yuan’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has recently purchased samples of 10 commercially available "wireless chargers" for examination and inspection. Inspection results indicated that for "quality items," 4 products failed to meet the requirements; for "labeling items," 4 products failed to meet the requirements; and for "essential component comparison," 1 product failed to meet the requirements. The DCP has asked the competent authority, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), to handle the failed cases in accordance with the law.
Electronic charging equipment on the market has already evolved from "wired" portable power banks to "wireless" chargers. As of January 1, 2020, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspections, MOEA (BSMI) has since incorporated wireless chargers into its commodities subject for inspection. Because the safety of this type of product is extremely important to the rights and interests of consumers, the DCP has cooperated with the BSMI to purchase inspection samples from online stores and physical stores in northern Taiwan. Quality inspection was conducted by the BSMI using criteria such as "labeling inspection," "conduction interference tests," "radiation interference tests," and "temperature rise regulations." Labeling and "essential component comparison" inspections were also respectively carried out by the BSMI and the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Central Region Office in accordance with the "Commodity Inspection Act" and the "Commodity Labeling Act."
Testing and inspection results are as follows:
I.Quality items: 4 products failed to meet the requirements, all failing the "radiation interference tests."
II.Labeling items: 4 products failed to meet the requirements.
(I)In terms of the Commodity Inspection Act: 3 products failed to meet the requirements. Primary violations included inconsistencies between sample appliance specifications and the original technical documentation, and lack of a Commodity Inspection Mark.
(II)In terms of the Commodity Labeling Act: 2 products failed to meet the requirements. Primary violations included rated voltage labels missing from the main unit, failing to label the model number, specifications, place of origin, precautions, and warnings in Chinese, and failing to label the importer address and phone number.
III.In terms of the essential component comparison items: 1 product failed to meet the requirements. The primary violation was failing to install countermeasure components such as conductive cloth, conductive foam, copper foil, or CORE, which is inconsistent with the original technical documentation.
In accordance with Article 60 of the "Commodity Inspection Act," those failing to meet "quality item" guidelines and evading inspection shall be imposed a fine between NT$250,000 and NT$2,500,000. In accordance with Article 63 of the same Act, the obligatory inspection applicant shall be notified to recall or correct the commodities within a given time period. Furthermore, those with two recorded cases of failure to meet quality guidelines, and no implication in inspection evasion, shall have their registration of product certification rescinded in accordance with Subparagraph 1, Article 42 of the "Commodity Inspection Act." In accordance with Article 63-1 of the same Act, companies shall be notified to recall or correct the commodities within a given time period. Those failing to do so shall be imposed a fine between NT$100,000 and NT$1,000,000.
As for violations of the "Commodity Inspection Act" with respect to "labeling items," in accordance with Article 59 of the same Act, companies shall be notified to correct the commodities within a given time period. Those failing to do so within the given time period shall be imposed a fine between NT$100,000 and NT$1,000,000, and shall have their registration of product certification rescinded in accordance with Subparagraph 2, Article 42 of the same Act. As for the violations of the "Commodity Labeling Act," the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Central Region Office has asked the local competent authorities to notify producers, manufacturers, or importers to make corrections within a given time period, in accordance with Article 15 of the same Act. Those who do not make corrections within the given time period shall be imposed a fine between $NT20,000 and NT$200,000.
The DCP reminds consumers to take note of the following during purchase or usage: (1) Only wireless chargers with a "Commodity Inspection Mark" should be purchased. (2) Check for a Chinese-language instruction manual, instructions on the packaging, or any attached product usage instructions or precautions. Carefully follow the instructions when using the product, and take note of the warnings and usage precautions.