Product recall

Product recall In this feature 100 million appliances registration scheme online portal As reported last issue, only a third of owners register their household appliances with the manufacturer, making safety recalls a tricky business but a new portal could change all that, says Douglas Herbison T A BOUT AMDEA The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances is the UK trade body for producers of domestic appliances. It represents more than 85 per cent of the industry, covering most of the UKs topselling white goods brands, other large and small kitchen appliances, plus heating, water heating, floor care, waste disposal and ventilation equipment. here are at least 100 million large household appliances in the UK. They are the workhorses of many a home fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens and dishwashers. We take them for granted and tend to keep them for 10 years or more in fact, for as long as they show reliable signs of life. These so-called white goods may change hands or address over the years, but according to a recent YouGov survey only a third of owners will make a point of registering their appliances after purchase. From the very start, therefore, manufacturers hold sparse ownership data and this means thousands of products are untraceable if a safety repair becomes necessary. Fortunately, recalls are relatively rare. The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (Amdea) whose members account for 90 per cent of the large white goods in UK homes says there have been seven to 10 recalls a year over the past few years. Often, the problem is triggered by a small variation in a component a screw or a seal on a particular batch manufactured in a dened time window. These usually only require a small, in-home repair by a qualied technician to make the product safe. However, while the x may be simple, the risks from the problem can be high. Manufacturers need to be able to contact the affected households swiftly but, bringing recalls to the attention of the public, prompting owners to contact helplines and encouraging them to book a repair, is challenging. Better ownership data is an important step in improving the recall process, but changing public behaviour will take time. The vast majority of consumers surveyed by YouGov said they were unperturbed by recall stories that they had seen in the press. However, once they considered that registration could ensure the safety of their homes, a similar majority (70 per cent) claimed to be more likely to do it. In January, the Register My Appliance campaign which is being supported by trading standards ofces around the UK, as well as Citizens Advice bureaux was launched by then Consumer Affairs Minister, Jo Swinson. As part of the campaign, an online portal has been developed, in association with Amdea, to provide the public with access to the registration pages of 53 major brands. In most cases, they can register appliances that are up to 12 years old. Amdea has created a registration template that asks for the minimum amount of information needed to effect an efcient recall and the details submitted go directly to the relevant manufacturer. They will only use this data for the purposes of safety repairs. The portal also offers tips on appliance care and home safety, plus a current list of product recalls. Support for the Register My Appliance campaign is growing: UK re and rescue services have been promoting it in their communities through local newspapers and social media and by distributing yers, while private label, own-brand manufacturers and retailers are seeking ways to join the campaign. Credits Douglas Herbison is chief executive of the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances. Images: Mix3r / My Life Graphic / Shutterstock Published Thursday 28 May, 2015 Bringing recalls to the attention of the public, prompting owners to contact helplines and encouraging them to book a repair, is challenging To share this page, click on in the toolbar