Darmstadt Regional Council destroys dangerous cheap saws from China

• 4,450 deficient chainsaws shredded to 20 tons of scrap
• Non-conforming products contravene EU safety standards
• Market surveillance authority of Darmstadt Regional Council pounces

Last week the Darmstadt Regional Council destroyed 4,450 cheap chainsaws which had been found to have serious safety defects. Among other things, the chain braking time was too long, the front hand guard and the handle broke too easily. Other defects found were the inadequate strength of the front handle, missing rating plates and emissions outside the statutory limits. In addition, there were no valid type approval test certificates for the saws, which chainsaws must have to comply with the Machinery Directive. The saws did not there-fore conform to several requirements of the legal regulations applicable throughout Europe and thus pose a real risk to users.

The dangerous saws with the fantasy names "PowerHaus" and "KrafTWelle" were sold by door-to-door salesmen, at flea markets or on the Internet. They were impounded during a search of a company in South Hesse. About half of them had a colour scheme deceptively similar to that of STIHL products and thus infringed the STIHL colour trademark which is protected throughout the EU. In October 2010, the Darmstadt Regional Council, in its capacity as the responsible market surveillance authority, issued an order prohibiting placing such or similar chainsaws on the market. Furthermore, distributors have been ordered to carry out public recalls and several warnings of penalty payments were given.

Therefore, for the first time ever in the case of chainsaws, a European market surveillance authority has implemented valid EU law on such a scale with visible and notice-able consequences for the defendant.

(Voucher copy requested.)

Caption:

Picture 1: Chainsaws worth €200,000 were destroyed during this operation.

Picture 2: Darmstadt Regional Council destroys dangerous cheap saws from China 4,450 deficient chainsaws shredded to 20 tons of scrap.

Photograph: STIHL (Reprint free of charge/voucher copy requested)