October 2003
Yong Heng controls fitted to Bodin brand kettles have appeared in Kruidvat stores in Holland and Belgium. The kettles have been tested and proven to be non-compliant with safety standards.

October 2003
Chinese Export Commodities Fair October 2003, Guangzhou
The 94th show attracted record numbers of visitors at over 150,000, and over 20 bn US dollars worth of new business. STRIX actions against exhibitors of electric kettles and controls were also a record high, with over 170 infringing products being removed over 3 days. The Guangdong Provincial Patent Bureau raided 18 booths and confiscated 130 products which infringed STRIX's intellectual property, whilst in direct civil action STRIX removed a further 42 products from 12 booths. STRIX also took the opportunity to advise exhibitors of kettles incorporating controls manufactured by Ningbo Sunlight Company of Yin Country, Ningbo that they also infringe a newly granted STRIX patent.

The EU/China WTO conference took place on 17th September. The China Compulsory Certification is fully underway as from 1st August, with 95,000 certificates issued from only 9 accredited test centres. In the seminar European organisations were invited to describe their problems with obtaining CCC. Market Surveillance in the local Chinese market under the auspices of CCC is operational.

Appliance manufacturer Jin Lun from Guangzhou has pulled out of legal action against STRIX following the Hometech Fair in Berlin in February 2002.

October 2003
Hong Kong Electronics Fair October 2003
Hong Kong Trade Development Council took action against exhibitors infringing STRIX intellectual property and raided 6 booths and removed products from display. In independent civil actions STRIX raided 19 booths, seizing 16 infringing products. 14 Kettles fitted with Sunlight controls were found on 5 booths, all the kettles were removed.

October 2003
STRIX is taking action against importers of Usha and Inalsa branded kettles for infringement of Intellectual Property Rights. Certain electrical products will be subject to mandatory certification from 1st September 2003.

October 2003
Duplex branded kettles fitted with copies of the STRIX control system have been withdrawn from the market.

Korean Test Laboratory (KTL) are investigating 5 kettles discovered on the market fitted with copies of the STRIX system. Brands involved are, Minoya, Nova, Turtle and Unimax. Further Intellectual Property actions on the infringing are underway against the importers.

The Korean testing and accreditation authorities are now investigating Chinese manufacturers of infringing kettles.

October 2003
Changes have been introduced by the Energy Commission, the state body responsible for electrical safety. The dual approval system by which the Energy Commission and Sirim (the national test and certification body) could issue approvals for electrical products has been simplified. Only Sirim approvals will be required in future which will make enforcement more practical.

October 2003
STRIX has accepted damages and legal costs from the importer of "All Ride" kettles which were fitted with copies of the STRIX control system. The kettles were manufactured by JIN LUN of Guangzhou in China.

October 2003
"Africa" brand kettles fitted with copies of the STRIX R72/P69 system were discovered on sale. Agreement has been reached with the importer regarding future conduct following the cessation of sales.