Federal Network Agency takes more than 15 million products off the market
The Federal Network Agency took more than 15 million products out of circulation last year. Above all, questionable power-saving devices or radios that could penetrate the military sector were affected.
The Federal Network Agency last issued a warning about energy-saving devices in November. Above all, these devices promise consumers lower power consumption. But according to BNetzA President Klaus Müller, the “energy-saving effects of such devices are questionable”.
The authority withdrew these and many other questionable products from the market in 2022. At her market surveillance the agency has identified more than 15 million illicit products and taken them off the market.
Prohibited products in the focus of the Federal Network Agency
For the Federal Network Agency, consumer protection is the top priority in its investigation. That’s why she goes in search of products “that don’t meet the legal requirements and can cause radio interference or have significant formal defects”.
In 2022, the agency sanctioned 15 million such products. 13 million devices came together in the online market surveillance, the rest relates to reviews in German retail. For comparison: In 2021, the authority even identified almost 23 million products.
“The number of products that we took off the market was very high again last year. This is how we protect consumers from unsafe products,” says President Klaus Müller.
Which devices are particularly affected?
In online market surveillance, the Federal Network Agency sanctioned light effect devices for the private sector most frequently. The number was 3.2 million devices. These include, for example, disco balls or lightning cubes. These are mostly radio-controlled and would work in impermissible laser classes.
Conspicuous energy-saving devices follow in second place. Around 2.8 million such products have the “questionable energy-saving function” mentioned above. Because here, too, formal defects are often present. These include, among other things, incorrect CE markings or missing German operating instructions.
There are also often no European contact persons. As a result, consumers could not assert any claims in the event of a guarantee or damage ´.
Hand-held transmitters and radio remote controls complete the top 3 with more than two million products. According to the Federal Network Agency, these often use illegal frequencies in the military frequency range.
Battery chargers, which can cause interference in military radio or IP services, were particularly noticeable in retail. Smart radio-controlled sockets, which often pose a risk of electric shock or fire, are just as critical.
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