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The popularity of online shopping has led to a “rapid rise in fake and unsafe goods” being delivered to UK homes, according to the charity Electrical Safety First (ESF).

It warns against buying electrical products from online-only sellers because they may not comply with UK safety standards and could cause fires.

“Online marketplaces aren’t regulated in the same way as high street retailers,” said Karter Kane, ESF’s policy and public affairs adviser for Northern Ireland.

“So we would always recommend that people shop from a reputable high street retailer, or their [high street retailer’s] online store to ensure the best chance of getting a safe electrical product.”

The ESF regularly buys electronic items from online sellers to conduct its own safety tests on products.

In 2023, those tests identified more than 50 dangerous or non-compliant devices sold by leading international online marketplaces, external.

These included a food blender which emitted smoke and a hairstyler that could cause an electric shock.

The investigation led to Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Wish.com and AliExpress removing certain products from their websites after ESF highlighted concerns.

Ms Kane explained many online-only electrical goods are “often coming from a third-party seller, which could be based anywhere in the world”.

The EFS said although no-one is legally allowed to sell unsafe products to UK consumers no matter where they are based, the rules are not applied consistently.

The charity is lobbying for new legislation so that online marketplaces “face the same legal duties as high street retailers to ensure the goods they sell are safe”.

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