sparks
ELECTRICAL NEWS
february
2014
IN THIS ISSUE
February 2014
• Distribution boards, switches, sockets and protection
• Sparks Christmas Tree draw
• Lighting
16-20
14-15
21-23
FEATURES
• Contractors’ Corner
• Buyers’ Guide
• People on the move
REGULARS
2-11
12–13
24
COUNTERFEIT products have become a major global problem
– and while many consumers are aware that they are buying
counterfeit products, a study by the International Chamber of
Commerce Global anti-Counterfeiting Group across 42 countries,
found that consumers“seldom felt guilty”about doing so.
The study found that consumers perceived that counterfeit-
ing was“harmless”and were“generally unaware of the economic
impact of their acts and the dangers to their health”.
This month in NewYork, the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) launched a global campaign“to raise awareness
among consumers of the $250-billion a year illicit trafficking of
counterfeit goods”. The campaign,
‘Counterfeit: Don’t buy into
organised crime’
informs consumers that buying counterfeit goods
“could be funding organised criminal groups, puts consumer
health and safety at risk and contributes to other ethical and envi-
ronmental concerns”.
Crime
“As a crime, which touches virtually everyone in one way or
another, counterfeit goods pose a serious risk to consumer health
and safety. With no legal regulations and very little recourse, con-
sumers are at risk fromunsafe and ineffective products and faulty
counterfeit goods can lead to injury and, in some cases, death.
Tyres, brake pads, airbags, aeroplane parts and electrical consumer
goods are just some of the many items that have been counter-
feited,”warns UNODC.
The IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) brochure,
‘Piracy in Electrical and Electronic Products – Anti-counterfeiting
best practice and strategies’
states,“counterfeiting and piracy have
grown into a global business”. However, the IEC estimate is not as
conservative as UNODC’s and states that the global‘counterfeiting
business’is worth in excess of US$650-billion a year.
Counterfeit goods a major global problem
THE 2013 Christmas promotion proved that Sparks’readers really
want to win our advertisers’products.
The December issue had hardly landed on subscribers’desks
when entries started pouring in from Bela Bela to Bloemfontein
and Knysna to Newcastle
The 12 generous advertisers who contributed prizes joined
Crown Publications’publisher, JennyWarwick and the Sparks team
for lunch at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on
16 February to draw the names of the lucky winners.
Congratulations to all the winners and heartfelt thanks to all the
advertisers and everyone who entered.
Turn to pages 14 and 15 to find out the names of all the lucky
winners and to see the photos of the draw.
And the winners are…
Continued on page 6...
The brochure warns that counterfeit electrical and electronic
products now occupy second place after pharmaceuticals.“From
components such as fuses, cables and circuit breakers to household
equipment, professional work tools and automotive and aviation
spare parts, nothing is safe from counterfeiting. While the appear-
ance and packaging can be very convincing, the products them-
selves are often sub-standard andmay represent a severe safety
hazard, causing accidents and costing lives.”
The IEC brochure cautions that“when counterfeit electrical
devices, components and spare parts enter manufacturing supply
chains, they can add fire, shock and explosion risks that may cost
workers their lives, cause serious property damage and involve
unpredictable financial liability”.
Financial losses
“One fake component can void guarantees for entire systems and
installations, resulting in financial losses and liabilities. Manufactur-
ers, installers, specifiers and employers can be held responsible for
incidents and accidents linked to counterfeit merchandise.”
And, according to a study commissioned by the International
Chamber of Commerce, 80% of consumers in the developed and
developing world regularly purchase counterfeit products with
little awareness, remorse or fear of consequences, including poten-
tial health and safety risks to themselves or their families.
The report states that“they are usually unaware of the very real
risks to their health and livelihood, but are likely to change their
behaviour when informed of the dangers.”
ECA(SA)
South Africa has not escaped the influx of counterfeit goods and
the electrical industry has been particularly hard hit.
