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Brits urged to avoid dangerous plug adaptors this summer - what to watch out for

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Why This Matters

This investigation highlights the dangers of purchasing unverified travel adaptors online, which can pose serious safety risks such as electric shocks or electrocution. For consumers and the tech industry, it underscores the importance of adhering to safety standards and purchasing from trusted sources to ensure safe travel accessories. Raising awareness about these hazards can prevent injuries and promote safer product standards globally.

Key Takeaways

Brits going on holiday abroad this summer have been warned to watch out for dangerous travel adaptors, after an investigation suggested thousands may be for sale online.

Consumer safety group Electrical Safety First (ESF) tested 14 products from AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, eBay and TikTok Shop - and found they all failed to meet UK safety requirements.

It said in some instances the devices could expose users to risk of serious electric shock or electrocution.

AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and TikTok all said they had removed the products ESF flagged from sale, and that they treated product safety as a top priority.

But Giuseppe Capanna, ESF product safety engineer, urged those "heading abroad this summer to think before they buy".

"What looks like a bargain could come at a much higher cost," he warned.

Capanna also said shoppers should buy travel adaptors from trusted retailers "so they can travel with confidence".

ESF tested six regular travel adaptors and eight universal adaptors it suspected could pose safety concerns.

To be sold in the UK, adaptors must not have accessible live parts and only one set of pins should come out at a time.

But the charity found multiple sets could be exposed simultaneously in six out of eight of the universal adaptors it tested.

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