AMDEA accuses Which? of scaremongering

UK: The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) has accused consumer group Which? of causing fear and alarm amongst consumers over the safety of domestic fridges.

The association maintains that all appliances placed on the market are required by law to be safe and tested to the safety standards prevailing at the time, but that these standards are continuously revised. It says that these revisions are implemented by manufacturers as soon as possible thereby ensuring that each generation of product is safer than the last.

“This does not mean that products already on the market are unsafe, and it is irresponsible, and misleading to suggest otherwise,” AMDEA  says in a statement.

Earlier today, Which? named 250 refrigeration appliances with plastic backs that, it claims, may dramatically accelerate the spread of flames in the event of a fire. It described the proportion of potentially unsafe appliances in shops as “worryingly high”,  and blamed the continued legal sale of these appliances on “flawed” current safety standards that won’t be replaced until 2019.

AMDEA points out that the latest standard revision is the result of a positive collaboration driven by experts from numerous organisations including the BSI, UK Fire and Rescue Services, manufacturers, and AMDEA.

AMDEA says it is “disappointed” to see Which? “attempting to intervene in this process and cause unnecessary fear and alarm among consumers”.

An AMDEA spokesperson said: “Consumers should be re-assured that all appliances on the market have to be safe and tested to the rigorous safety standards prevailing at the time. These standards are continuously revised or improved, but this does not mean that a previous generation of products is unsafe. The aim of the latest revision in relation to refrigeration, now being rolled out around the world, is to improve fire retardance in case a fire starts elsewhere in the home. It is an additional safeguard. Fires starting in a fridge are extremely rare.”

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Which? issues “don’t buy” fridge warning – 5 April 2018
UK: Consumer group Which? has named 250 refrigeration appliances with plastic backs that, it claims, may dramatically accelerate the spread of flames in the event of a fire. Read more…