VDE Testing and Certification Institute has withdrawn the IEC/EN60730 Safety Certificate and Marks License from a major Chinese copyist manufacturer.

The manufacturer YONG HENG Thermostat Factory, located in Shunde, Guangdong Province, China is the largest supplier of copy controls for electric kettles. This case specifically concerns YONG HENG's copies of the STRIX R7 and STRIX P69 controls. YONG HENG is the major supplier to certain Chinese kettle manufacturers who have been responsible for the influx of offending kettles into Europe and other parts of the world. These kettles, as they are fitted with the YONG HENG manufactured controls and connectors, have been classified as "dangerously unsafe", and non-complying with safety standards and the E.U. Low Voltage Directive, by VDE Testing and Certification Institute.

Any European Approval marks displayed on these components and the kettles they are fitted to are therefore completely invalid, and the use of them is illegal.

The certification was only recently given, prior to certain facts coming to the institute's notice.

Thanks are owed to VDE for their vigilance and prompt action by Consumers all over Europe, and by all manufacturers of safe and legitimate product. We are all being well served by VDE.

Kettles fitted with Yong Heng components continue to be found for sale in major retail outlets in Belgium, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. Work continues to get them withdrawn from sale.