New research by Which? has found that hundreds of potentially dangerous products remain available on major online marketplaces, even though identical or highly similar items have previously been flagged as "unsafe" by the UK product safety regulator. Nearly 800 listings on Amazon Marketplace, eBay and Etsy were identified using an image-based search tool, with many matching products already reported to the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
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Which? tested 15 items and found that all but one posed serious risks. Several were aimed at children, including toys and baby sleeping bags containing choking or suffocation hazards. The group also identified more than 140 listings for a ladder design that has repeatedly failed safety tests, along with numerous counterfeit electrical goods carrying fire or electric shock risks. More than 500 listings were linked to so-called "invisible risks" that consumers cannot detect online.
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, said marketplaces should remove such items immediately, adding that the government must impose clearer legal obligations through forthcoming regulations.
eBay and Amazon stated that consumer safety is a priority and that action had been taken on several listings. Etsy has been approached for comment.
Source: www.retailgazette.co.uk
