Actions are underway against Brio and Cascade brand kettles found on sale in New Zealand, and against Summit, Ideal and Prima branded kettles in Australia.

The Market Surveillance organisation recently removed electric kettles Opti MC 200 and Conegliano XD 2328 from the market which were also the subject of a Rapex safety alert.
Another kettle, Opti Felek MC 130 is currently under investigation.

Market Surveillance
The Market Surveillance focus on electric kettles continues, with Shanghai AIC announcing 50% of electric kettles are found to have problems regarding conformance with CCC. This figure compares precisely with the STRIX surveys which when last conducted in September 2005 indicated that 50% of those kettles on sale in retail outlets were fitted with safety critical components which either infringe STRIX intellectual property registered in China and/or have safety problems. Similar figures are reported from Ningbo, Cixi, and Shunde/Foshan areas.

CCC Removal
STRIX continues to assess the efficacy of Market Surveillance. Working closely with the certification bodies in China CCC certificates were removed from kettles purchased in Guangdong. Another batch of testing is completed and the action continues to ensure meaningful enforcement results from this.

Ningbo
STRIX legal action to defend its intellectual property in China continues. The court hearing regarding legal action against Ningbo Sunlight is completed. The court found against Ningbo Sunlight who were ordered to destroy all stock, cease sales and pay STRIX compensation. The Sunlight product in question is SLT 101/102. It is understood that Sunlight are appealing the judgement.

Hongquiao
Patent Infringement action continues against the manufacturer form Hongqiao Town whose products are depicted here.

Counterfeit Control

Genuine STRIX U18 Control

Wuhan, Chengdu, Henan, Zhejiang
STRIX is working with local TSB to advise them of unsafe kettles on the market.

Foshan
STRIX has filed a legal suit against a local manufacturer of controls for Unfair Competition based on the subject's assertions that STRIX controls do not conform to standards. STRIX has based its case on its own extensive knowledge of electrical safety, International Standards and testimonials from worldwide test and certification bodies including Chinese. Assertions that the STRIX R72 should comply to the thermal link standard IEC 60691 have been soundly refuted, and the October 2005 IEC Technical Committee TC 61 in Capetown South Africa refused to allow such a modification to the standards. Similar assertions with regard to IEC 60 730 standard relating to Clause 11.4.1 have been refuted by leading worldwide test and certification bodies.

Explosive Growth
The Chinese market for electric kettles is showing explosive growth. With such a disparity of spending power between sectors of the population, the opportunity for local kettle manufacturers to sell large quantities of unsafe kettles is very real. STRIX calls on all kettle manufacturers to minimise the risk to consumers by using only controls which can conform not only to the required control standards but also the extra demands required from the IEC 60 335 appliance standard. For too long now control manufacturers have sold inadequate control systems to kettle manufacturers leaving the kettle manufacturer with the problem of unsafe kettles. Regular reports are now being received of bodily harm and fatalities as a result of the use of unsafe kettles in China. At this time there is no process to effect recall of unsafe electrical appliances in China. CHEEA, the Beijing based manufacturers' trade organisation are focussing on this issue with the aim of introducing effective product recall programmes.

Canton Fair October 2005
Official raids by the fair organisers removed 103 products which infringed STRIX intellectual property from 12 booths. STRIX took its own civil actions against other companies displaying infringing products. This initiative will continue for the Spring Fair 15th-20th April 2006.

The German safety authorities have issued a safety alert concerning kettle controls manufactured by Ningbo Sunlight. This Rapex alert has been circulated as normal to all other 24 member states of the European Union for their own actions. Further this has stimulated further interest to Market Surveillance authorities in non European States.

October 2005
HKTDC Electronics Trade Fair
STRIX once again found it necessary to take action against products displayed which infringed STRIX Intellectual Property. 31 products were removed from 10 booths, an activity level about 50% of 2004. STRIX will continue this action at the upcoming Spring Fair in April 2006.

Hungary, a recent accession state in the European Union, is taking a keen interested in product safety posting the highest number of Rapex safety alerts in 2005. STRIX has developed a dossier of unsafe kettles on sale in Hungary for action by the local market surveillance authorities.

STRIX patents protecting its U series of controls is now in place to support that of its immersed system. Fundamental demographics promise major growth from this region. However prohibitive taxes and duties encourage the sale of unsafe kettles. Despite this the leading kettle is STRIX fitted indicating a fundamental desire for quality products designed for the particular requirements of the local market. STRIX is working with importers and local manufacturers to ensure the market is supplied with safe and competitive kettles.

The Israeli Standards Institute and the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labour have given strong support in preventing the importation of unsafe kettles into Israel. Ministerial interest has ensured an emphasis on safety as well as the conformity to required standards.

Electric kettles were a major focus for market surveillance in 2005. This will continue into 2006 and STRIX has prepared a dossier of over 20 different kettles found on sale in the local market in Seoul which are unable to conform to the required safety standards.
Also work is continuing at CIQ offices in China responsible for the control of quality of exported kettles.

STRIX is working with Sirim the only test and certification body in the country in a nationwide survey to remove unsafe kettles from the market. Sirim conducted a major market survey in February 2006 and is liaising closely with the Energy Commission to remove unsafe kettles from sale from major retail outlets in March 2006.

Bavary and Baymex branded kettles fitted with Sunlight controls which were the subject of a Rapex safety alert were found on sale. VWA the Dutch safety authority are considering the case.
Settlements of intellectual property infringement cases against Quality Camp, van Allen and Home Electronics are continuing.

Another accession state, Poland is now taking a keen interest in the safety of electrical appliances. STRIX is working closely with Trade Inspection as electric kettles are a major focus for 2006. Further, the Polish Consumer Federation are soon to publish a report of electric kettle safety.

Actions continue against unsafe copy fitted kettles found in Atlanta, Elco, Elekta, Polaris, Sanusy, Schtark, Sea Minse and Smile brands. Customs and, Federal State Inspection Service are alerted to the problem. Kettles will be a major focus sector for 2006.

Few unsafe kettles are now found in major retail outlets, but following a survey of the low cost market areas in Johannesburg, safety and IPR based actions are underway against a new range of unsafe kettles involving 13 low cost brands.

"POWERPLUS" branded kettles fitted with copies of the STRIX system have been found on sale in Scotland. These kettles are unable to conform to standards and infringe STRIX patents.