The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) continues to enhance completely product safety of management to electronic products, chemical products for daily use and products for children and senior citizens this year.
Last year, the bureau included children's high chairs, LED-lamps, and secondary lithium cells and batteries, secondary lithium mobile power bank and battery charger for computer, communication and consumer electronics under the mandatory inspection scheme in effort to protect children's safety, promote green energy, and enhance consumer rights.
BSMI Director-General, Liou Ming-Jong explained that the bureau monitors all commodities subject to mandatory inspection, such as toys, children's textile products, baby strollers and carriages, baby walkers, child restraint system for vehicles, massage appliances, refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, computers, speakers and audio-video 3C products.
This year, the bureau will continue to enhance product safety for children and senior citizens and chemical products for daily use. Children's raincoats, non-wood walking sticks and travel luggages are expected to be mandatory inspection by the end of 2015.
In response to environmental protection and create a sustainable environment, the bureau intends to apply the CNS 15663 to reduce of the restricted chemical substances (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in electrical and electronic equipment (automatic data processor, printer, copy machine, television and displayer) for labeling requirements.
BSMI Director-General Liou indicated that all imported and domestically produced commodities subject to mandatory inspection must be in compliance with the inspection requirement before they are released from the production premises or the customs.
To ensure the consistency of inspected products, the bureau conducts market inspections annually. For non-conforming products, BSMI will execute the procedures according to the Commodity Inspection Act and Directions for Commodity Market Surveillance by double checking to protect consumers' right.
In 2014, the bureau randomly inspected DIY rubber band weaving tools, children's raincoats, children's rain boots, puzzle mats, student uniforms, ladies underwear, thermal paper, toaster maker, refrigerators, water dispenser, silk woven quilt, paints, extension cords with USB charger, Christmas lamps and handy warmer. In 564 items inspected, there are 15 percent being inconformity with standard requirements and 39 percent failed to fulfill label requirements. The BSMI has fully controlled information of the safety for daily commodities and timely kept releasing inspection results to public for consumer reference.
Commodities failing to comply with related requirements under mandatory inspection will be ordered to remove from the shelves, make recalls or improvements.
For commodities that are not subject to mandatory inspection, if the inspection results reveal any harm to life, body health, risk of property to consumer, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has the right to order business operators to improve, recall or destroy these commodities under Article 36 and Article 38 of the Consumer Protection Law.
Director-General Liou emphasized that the bureau is in charge of affairs concerning the well-being of people's lives. To ensure consumer safety and create a carefree living environment, the BSMI will continue to collect information about unsafe products sold on the international market, evaluate the possibility of high risk commodities under the mandatory inspection scheme, and enhance market surveillance.
Agency in charge: Inspections Administrative Division
Contact person: Ms. Tzu-Jung, WU
Telephone: (02)2343-1763