NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe today issued a mandatory recall to 25 NSW traders that supplied Infinity brand cables and are not covered by the existing national recall.
The cabling imported by Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd, now in liquidation, was found to be non-compliant to Australian Standards as it had poor quality plastic sheathing and insulation which could deteriorate prematurely potentially causing a shock and fire risk.
More than 3900 kilometres of the PVC cabling was sold nationally between 2010 and 2013, with approximately 47 per cent of the total amount sold in NSW.
Mr Stowe said although the national recall covered 18 national suppliers responsible for selling 85 per cent of Infinity cabling in Australia, it did not cover these 25 NSW-based suppliers who purchased cable direct from Infinity Cable Company and had then had supplied or installed the cable in NSW.
“There’s been a lot of work done on a state and national level to alert consumers and industry to the dangers of Infinity cable, however it is concerning that the response to those warnings and the national recall has been modest at best,” he said.
“The recall is now being mandated on these ‘second tier’ traders in NSW to ensure that they continue to take steps to warn and assist their customers.
“While Infinity brand cables don’t present an immediate danger they will in the coming years as the cable starts to deteriorate – for this reason suppliers should take action now and assist consumers.”
Following the national recall in August 2014, NSW Fair Trading contacted second tier suppliers in NSW to ensure they were responding to customers requesting assistance.
A list of the suppliers who distributed or installed Infinity cabling in NSW is available on the Fair Trading website, www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or by calling 13 32 20.
Consumers who had electrical work completed between 2010 and 2013 should contact their builder or electrician to see whether the cable used in the work was purchased from one of these traders.
If so, they should contact the trader and arrange to have the work inspected by a licensed electrician as part of the recall.
NSW Fair Trading has commenced legal action against Infinity Cable Co director Lu Luo, which is currently before the court.
Additional:
List of second tier NSW traders affected by NSW mandatory recall:
- Jubart Pty Ltd t/as Advantage Electrical Suppliers
- AEW Electrical Wholesalers Pty Ltd
- AGM Electrical Supplies Pty Ltd
- AKM Electrical Services
- Alliance Electrical Wholesalers (Blue Mountains) Pty Ltd
- Automation Electrical Controls
- Awe-Sim Holdings Pty Ltd t/as Awe-Sim Electrical and Industrial Wholesalers
- Taybet Pty Ltd t/as Bowral Electrical Wholesaler
- BSD Industries Pty Ltd
- Harlech Trading Co Pty Ltd t/as Buckley Bros Lawson
- CMI Operations Pty Ltd t/as CMI Electrical Products
- Smith & Pearce Pty Ltd t/as Direct Electrical Supplies
- ECB Electrical Group Pty Ltd
- Energy Electrical Wholesale Pty Ltd
- Grange Electrical Suppliers
- Hajjar Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd
- Herkes Electrical Pty Ltd
- Integral Electrical Wholesalers Pty Ltd
- Isupply Electrical Pty Ltd
- M & E Equipment Traders Pty Ltd
- Martin Lighting and Electrical Pty Ltd
- Rovert Pty Ltd
- Switchgear Commissioning & Maintenance Engineers Pty Ltd
- Wilpa Electrical Pty Ltd
- Y Y Corp. Pty Ltd
List of NSW traders already affected by national recall:
- Masters Home Improvement
- John Danks & Son
- Mitre 10
- Pioneer Electrical Supplies
- Salmon Bros. Data and Electrical
- United Electrical and Data Supplies
- Alliance Electrical Wholesalers
- Sydney Electrical Wholesalers
- Ramax Electrical Wholesalers
- Network Electrical Supplies
- Go Electrical
- Advanced Electrical Wholesalers
- EZLEC Trade Supplies & Project Lighting