The Ukrainian State Research Centre for Certification, Metrology, Standardization, and Consumer Right Protection (Ukrmetrteststandart) recently organized an unusual exhibit featuring shoddy and hazardous products, like irons and immersion heaters that explode when they are plugged in. Also on display were defective socks, pans, cups, and even diapers.
Samples of these products were delivered to the state labs from various stores and bazaars in Kyiv. The tests showed that these products are dangerous to consumers. Anatolii Hnidikin, head of the household appliances research and testing center, said that most appliances and other products available on the Ukrainian market are uncertified. The majority of shoddy domestic appliances are made in China, with the rest produced in Ukraine, Spain, and Italy.
Natalia Popova, the head of Ukrmetrteststandart’s scientific- technical center, where standards for light industry products and individual protection means are tested, presented a handful of shoddy children’s goods, bed linens, and socks: “We discovered that instead of cellulose, these Pampers for newborns contain polypropylene, which is mostly used in construction. The bed linens contain only 10-15 percent wool, and the rest is polyester. Sleeping on such sheets is like being wrapped in a plastic bag. Packaged socks marked ‘100 percent wool’ actually contain only 50 percent wool, and the rest is synthetic material.”
Mykhailo Mukharsky, the Director General of Ukrmetrteststandart, believes that only proper legislation can rid the Ukrainian market of this onslaught of defective goods. Unfortunately, our lawmakers have not gotten around to this.
“On the contrary, all possible conditions are being provided for an even bigger influx of low-grade products into Ukraine. A bill was passed by parliament on Dec. 26, 2007, about government monitoring of business entities. Under this law we are required to warn the management of a given enterprise that it will be officially inspected 10 days prior to the inspection date. It’s like police officers warning a suspect 10 days before a warrant for his arrest is issued,” Mukharsky complained.
The lack of budget funds for product testing, reducing the number of products subject to certification in Ukraine, and above all, the absence of a law envisaging the supplier and seller’s legal responsibility for selling shoddy goods, lead Mukharsky to the disheartening conclusion that there is no control in Ukraine for monitoring the output of domestic goods or the importation of foreign- made products.
Mukharsky said that until Ukraine has legislation that protects consumer rights and bars access to low-quality products, people should think twice before buying goods that are too cheap, especially at our bazaars, kiosks, and other petty retail outlets.
