Manufacturers reminded to comply with industrial labels legislation

A company which was selling freezers with the wrong industrial labels has been fined £5,400 and ordered to pay costs.

As reported by The Northampton Echo, John Gillman & Sons (Electrical) Ltd, based in Gloucester, put the wrong energy ratings industrial labels on freezers they were selling.

They pleaded guilty to breaching regulation nine of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008) and must now pay a total of £14,829 in the next 14 days.

The court was told that the freezers, which were manufactured in China, were bought as part of a joint test purchasing project with Defra to look into energy labelling. The freezers were advertised with a B rating, but when they were delivered, the industrial labels said they had an A+ rating.

Clare Bates, prosecuting, said: "But when they were tested they were found to have an E or F rating. A A+ label says it has energy consumption of 215 kilowatt hours per year, but the energy consumption for the first was 376, the second was 394 and the third was 378."

In fact, the freezers used 77% more energy than the industrial labels claimed.

Manufacturers are being reminded to ensure any industrial labels comply with relevant legislation to avoid being hit with such steep fines.

Chris Lutton, defending, explained that it would be impossible to test every individual freezer because it would cost millions of pounds. "It has a very good reputation and this is the first time anything remotely like this has happened," he said.

The presiding magistrate concluded: "Having incorrect labelling had a detrimental impact on customers."

Click here to find out more about Diametric's ability to produce industrial labels.