ARLA/CLUSTER: Regulador alemão intervém contra interferências rádioelectricas

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

German regulator takes action over radio interference

The DARC reports that in 2017, the Federal Network Agency BNetzA
withdrew about 460,000 products on the Internet, which could cause
radio interference or electromagnetic incompatibility

A Google English translation says:

"The trend of recent years has it that many unsafe products reach the
German market via the Internet. Many of these products come from the
Far East. We also end offers of unsafe products even where the dealers
do not cooperate with us, "explains Jochen Homann, President of the
Federal Network Agency.

He adds: "Our market surveillance is a contribution to consumer
protection, which also has a preventive effect." In 2017, the Federal
Network Agency ended 665 offers of unsafe products that could cause
radio interference or electromagnetic incompatibility. A total of
around 460,000 products were affected. The trend from the past few
years suggests that there are many unsafe products on the Internet.

In 2016 537 offers were closed. The number of affected products was
then higher, as among other things 744 000 FM transmitters were
blocked. Among the approximately 460,000 products were 388,000
wireless headphones, which use security-relevant police radio
frequencies and therefore may not be operated in Germany. The Federal
Network Agency is also increasingly conducting anonymous test
purchases to test products that are not voluntarily made available. In
this context, 52 products were reviewed. All of these products had
abnormalities and distribution on the respective platforms was
therefore suspended. This involved a total of 14,700 devices, e.g.
Drones, smart home or LED products.

More and more products are ordered by consumers online directly from
third countries. That is why the Federal Network Agency works
intensively with Customs. In 2017, customs reported more than 16,000
suspicious shipments to the Federal Network Agency. These reports
totaled around 240,000 products. In 86% of the reports, no release of
the products was granted for the European market.

The proportion of eye-catching products thus remains at a consistently
high level. In 2016, more than 10 000 suspicious consignments were
reported by the customs authorities, covering a total of around 270
000 products. In 2017, the Federal Network Agency reviewed about 3,000
products in the German retail sector. Of these, about 1000 were also
metrologically tested in the laboratory. Overall, some 800 regulatory
measures were taken.

Further information on the market surveillance of the Federal Network
Agency can be found at
http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/marktueberwachung

In addition, consumers can find out about specific products on the
European Market Surveillance information and communication system
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/icsms/

The Federal Network Agency shows products that have been withdrawn
from circulation in a traveling exhibition. Current dates are
published at http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/wanderausstellung

DARC http://darc.de/