Fair Trading inspectors will be out in force at the Henty Field Days where hundreds of traders and an expected 50,000 consumers will converge from 21 – 23 September.

Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner Steve Griffin today put all traders on notice that inspectors would be making sure electrical articles on sale and being offered as part of promotions met the requirements of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 and its regulations.

“Henty Field Days is the largest annual fair for regional and country consumers living in the south of New South Wales and has been a celebrated event for more than 50 years,” he said.

“Henty is a massive outdoor supermarket for farm machinery and as well, some smaller traders sell a range of electrical goods for the home or work shed, including electric blankets, kettles, hair dryers, dishwashers, clothes dryers and power tools.

“Fair Trading experts will also be on the hunt for suspect electrical goods in retail outlets in Albury on Monday 20 September, Wagga Wagga and Queanbeyan on Wednesday 22 September and Goulbourn on Thursday 23 September.”

Mr Griffin said breaches of section 16 of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 for selling unapproved, unmarked or non-compliant electrical articles could result in penalties as high as $82,500 and/or two years imprisonment for an individual or sole trader and $825,000 for a corporation.

“Retailers should be aware that advertising electrical articles or displaying electrical articles as gifts in promotions is also selling, in accordance with provisions of the legislation,” he said.

“In 2006 an unapproved battery charger given away as a product and brand promotion, with a remote control tractor, was detected at the Henty Field Days and a formal warning was issued.

“Battery chargers are a common article found in breach of the law in all types of stalls at country shows and trade fairs.

“Another 2006 Henty Field Days trader was found in breach for selling remote control battery operated toys and a formal warning was issued for the sale of unapproved, declared electrical articles.”

Mr Griffin said as part of the Henty Field Days inspections program in 2008, four retailers (one in Albury, two in Wagga Wagga and one in Goulburn) were found in breach of marking provisions under section 16(1)(b) of the Act.

“These traders were issued with penalty infringement notices of $200 for each offence for selling unmarked, declared electrical articles,” he said.

“Last year, inspectors undertaking checks on return from the Henty Field Days found a retailer in Bowral selling an unapproved espresso machine. The trader and the supplier were warned.

“NSW traders should all be aware of and adhering to the laws that apply. Fair Trading inspectors continue to detect unapproved and unsafe products in the market, so I encourage all traders to ensure they are doing the right thing.”

Mr Griffin said this year’s Henty Field Days compliance campaign would also focus on rural consumers connected to the power grid, who are considering installing solar panels or small wind turbines up to 10 kilowatts.

“Under the NSW Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme, consumers are paid 60 cents per kilowatt hour for energy generated from these systems,” he said.

“Prior to signing a contract for the installation of renewable energy systems, consumers should seek a quote from an authorised service provider for any additional costs relating to the installation of electricity meters.”

Educational material regarding the law and obligations of sellers of electrical articles is available at this website.

Back to Media releases