• Carbon monoxide is a silent killer – it emits no taste, scent or colour. A carbon monoxide detector in working order reduces the risk of being poisioned with carbon monoxide.
• We publish the results of the joint project of UOKiK, the Trade Inspection Authority [IH] and the National Revenue Administration [KAS] – safety inspections of approx. 13,000 devices imported from outside the European Union.
• Only one detector model has failed to pass laboratory tests. The most errors concerned product labelling. Download the report and list of inspected devices.

Checks of carbon monoxide detectors have been one of the priorities of President of UOKiK and the Trade Inspection Authority for a number of years. Fire and untight chimney ducts when heated with gas or carbon are the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning. This gas has no taste, scent or colour and is therefore difficult to detect. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real threat to the body. High CO concentration leads to serious health-related consequences and even death. However, even small quantities may be dangerous for young children and the elderly.

– The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases in the heating season. Defective operation of carbon monoxide detectors may have serious consequences for consumers. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the market which we regularly conduct together with the Trade Inspection Authority - says Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

Inspectors of the Trade Inspection Authority will verify satisfaction of general safety requirements as part of inspections - both scheduled and interventional ones which are carried out in response to consumer notifications and signals from other sources.

Joint action of UOKiK, IH and KAS

In the case of products manufactured outside the European Union and imported into the European Union, effective identification, and elimination from the market of those products posing a threat requires joint action by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), the Trade Inspection Authority (IH) and the National Tax Administration (KAS). KAS officers will stop products at the border. IH inspectors will verify whether they satisfy the general safety requirements and, if necessary, refer them for laboratory tests.

– Many people die every year during the winter season due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a so-called silent and deceitful killer which is why, together with UOKIK and IH, we have decided to inspect detectors as early as at the border – emphasises the Head of KAS, junior officer Bartosz Zbaraszczuk.

– Joint actions have made that dangerous products have not been distributed among consumers in Poland and, therefore, in the European Union - adds President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny.

In H2 2022, as part of the joint action, we checked 9 models of carbon monoxide detectors (a total of 12,995 units). These were battery-powered products used only to control carbon monoxide concentration as well as hybrid devices intended to detect other gases and smoke as well. Our aim was to prevent detectors posing a threat to consumers from being marketed in Poland and, therefore, in the EU.

Carbon monoxide detectors control results

IH inspectors appointed for inspection checked the correctness of labelling on the basis of the requirements laid down in national and EU standards. They questioned 6 detector models, mainly due to the lack of required information on products and packaging and in the instructions for use. In half of the cases, there were no instructions for use in Polish. Details available in the inspection report and in the list of controlled devices.

At the laboratory, experts examined 9 detector models. They checked that the alarm was activated in due time – i.e. before three minutes – at a high concentration threshold, i.e. CO 300 ppm. One model did not pass the tests.

As a result of the entire inspection, the Trade Inspection Authority issued 6 negative opinions and 3 positive opinions on satisfaction by the inspected products of the relevant requirements. Two importers launched corrective measures to remedy the deficiencies in the labelling and, consequently, the detector for which they were responsible were admitted to trading.

– Thanks to the joint action of UOKiK, IH and KAS, nearly 3,000 devices which did not satisfy the safety requirements were not marketed. These included 750 pieces of the carbon monoxide detectors which did not pass the tests in the laboratory. Dangerous products have been destroyed– says Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

Summary

The joint project of UOKiK, IH and KAS prevented marketing of 2900 carbon monoxide detectors which failed to satisfy the general safety requirements, including 750 pieces of equipment questioned due to improper operation of the sound signal thanks to which the dangerous products failed to reach the hands of consumers. Checks on such equipment are necessary and will continue.

What consumers should remember

Do you have a heating system powered by gas or coal? Take care of safety. Consumer, please remember:

• read the instructions for use and safety information,
• use the device as intended,
• do not risk – do not use a detector which is not in working order,
• a detector is not able to substitute a correct installation and maintenance of stoves and chimney ducts as well as their regular inspection,
•  do not block air ducts, do not block windows in rooms where there are devices capable of emitting CO; take care of regular airing,
• if the alarm starts, find and remove the source of carbon monoxide, e.g. faulty connection of a stove with the chimney,
• report irregularities to the Trade Inspection Authority or UOKiK.

Consumer Support:

Phone: 801 440 220 or 222 66 76 76 – consumer helpline
E-mail: [SCODE]cG9yYWR5QGRsYWtvbnN1bWVudG93LnBs[ECODE]
Consumer Ombudsmen – in your town or powiat
Financial Ombudsman - when a complaint has been rejected by a financial institution

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone: 22 55 60 246
Email: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL
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