Two-thirds of gas appliances fail EU safety and performance checks

A recent EU-funded testing campaign has exposed significant shortcomings in gas appliances available on the market, with a staggering 73% failing to meet the bloc's performance and documentation standards. The initiative, organized by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), put 74 gas products under scrutiny.

The products, including 35 grills, 23 camping stoves, and 16 gas hobs, were purchased from both physical and online stores across 13 countries. The most common failure, accounting for 31% of non-compliant products, was the lack of required documentation or proper labeling on the product or its packaging. Another 42% of failures were attributed to performance issues, with a particular concern for safety at high temperatures, especially noted in camping stoves.

Other performance-related failures included problems with cross-ignition, operational safety, and temperature regulation. These products were tested by an accredited independent laboratory against EU standards for gas appliances, evaluating aspects like design, performance, safety, and markings. Out of 54 failures, a significant number were classified as low, medium, or high risk, with some even deemed serious risk.

In response to these findings, market surveillance authorities have taken measures such as ordering product withdrawals and demanding improvements from economic operators. For consumers looking to purchase new gas appliances, the advice is to opt for reputable European suppliers, ensure the product bears the CE marking, and verify that user manuals and safety instructions are available in their national language. Resources like the EU's Safety Gate and the Information and Communication System for Market Surveillance (ICSMS) can help identify potentially hazardous products.