Electrical appliances in local market to be safer

Qassim Sultan, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, on Saturday issued an administrative order on the implementation of the regulations, which were drafted by the civic body late last year.

The local order prohibits any person from dealing in, or marketing any electrical appliances in the emirate unless they comply with the accredited international and regional standard. The appliances should have the technical documents such as safety conditions, classifications and type, trade name and a manual in Arabic and English. The authorities concerned have the right to ask for the additional documents depending on the appliance type and purpose of use, the order states.

The department concerned has been instructed to prepare and update the list of appliances and latest standards, determine appliances that are covered under the order and prepare accredited names and addresses of the standardisation bodies. The department also has the right to consult internal or foreign experts to ensure the appliances comply with the required technical specifications, as well as inspect consignments imported into the emirate.

Official concerned will be appointed as judicial officers, and will have the right to register violations, conduct periodic inspection drives covering shops etc., and take samples for testing. According to Article 7 of the Local Order, the department will impose penalties on those violating the regulations. A set of technical specifications for electrical home appliances was drafted last year by Dubai Central Laboratory Department (DCLD) of Dubai Municipality. In this line the DCLD had carried out last year a survey of electrical home appliances in Dubai's market.

The DCLD is expected to set up a dedicated laboratory for home appliances, with its core activity being inspection and approval of appliances sold in the market, and the verification of compliance of concurrent regulations and the technical specifications.