Christmas lights to be supplied with appropriate three-pin electrical plugs

The Malta Standards Authority has reminded economic operators of their obligations to provide and place on the market only electrical equipment and appliances equipped with appropriate three-pin, British-type (MSA BS 1363), electrical plugs or suitable adaptors.

This obligation is required as per Legal Notice 181 of 2004, Electrical Accessories Regulations.

Economic operators are bound to replace all two-pin plugs installed on electrical equipment with three-pin plugs conforming to MSA BS 1363 or suitable adaptors before the items are put on sale or distributed. Adaptors allowed by law for placing on the market are those with a three-pin, sealable, fused configuration. Furthermore, non-fused adaptors are not to be allowed.

Moreover economic operators are reminded that whenever electrical equipment and appliances are not provided with appropriate three-pin plugs or adaptors as shown above, it is their duty to install such electrical accessories on the  items being sold before they leave the retail establishment.

Furthermore economic operators and consumers are also reminded that all electrical equipment and appliances must be properly CE marked, bear the manufacturer’s name and address, and bear contact details for the manufacturer’s European representative.

It has transpired through current inspections being carried out by the Malta Standards Authority that several Christmas lighting chains which, as expected, are available for consumers at this time of the year are not CE marked and are not being provided with the three pin configuration as required by law.

If such products are encountered during the inspections, economic operators will be forced to remove the products from the market immediatel