Camera firm fined over safety
A Carmarthenshire resident was supplied with a camera with an unsafe electrical adaptor, Ammanford magistrates have been told.
Camerabox Ltd pleaded guilty this week to two offences under the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations.
Robert Edgecombe, prosecuting on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, said that in February 2010 an Ammanford man bought a digital camera from a website owned by Oxfordshire-based Camerabox.
He was concerned when he opened the box and discovered that the battery recharger was supplied with a two-pin plug which was not compatible with UK sockets and a three-pin UK travel adaptor. The customer was unhappy with the company’s response and contacted Trading Standards. The camera was sent to an electrical consultant who made several observations on compatibility. He said it did not have the CE mark to show it complied with requirements and the adaptor was unsafe.
Sarah Taylor, for Camerabox, said it was the first time that the company had been before a court for Trading Standards matters. It was a family-run firm and employed 32 people.
She said the firm admitted its shortcomings over the matter and had improved its quality control procedures.
Camerabox was fined £200 for each offence, and ordered to pay £1,694.21 prosecution costs.
The council’s executive board member for public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “It is vital that companies supply products that are safe to use and our Trading Standards Service will take action to ensure that this is the case.”
Camerabox Ltd pleaded guilty this week to two offences under the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations.
Robert Edgecombe, prosecuting on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council, said that in February 2010 an Ammanford man bought a digital camera from a website owned by Oxfordshire-based Camerabox.
He was concerned when he opened the box and discovered that the battery recharger was supplied with a two-pin plug which was not compatible with UK sockets and a three-pin UK travel adaptor. The customer was unhappy with the company’s response and contacted Trading Standards. The camera was sent to an electrical consultant who made several observations on compatibility. He said it did not have the CE mark to show it complied with requirements and the adaptor was unsafe.
Sarah Taylor, for Camerabox, said it was the first time that the company had been before a court for Trading Standards matters. It was a family-run firm and employed 32 people.
She said the firm admitted its shortcomings over the matter and had improved its quality control procedures.
Camerabox was fined £200 for each offence, and ordered to pay £1,694.21 prosecution costs.
The council’s executive board member for public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “It is vital that companies supply products that are safe to use and our Trading Standards Service will take action to ensure that this is the case.”
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