Approval scheme for domestic gas appliances

"The Government will introduce a new Regulation under which the approval for domestic gas appliances will be mandatory," a spokesman for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said today (December 6).

The approved scheme, which will come into operation on January 1, 2003, will help the public and gas installers to identify models that have been produced in accordance with international safety standards and local operating requirements.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use and Miscellaneous) (Amendment) Regulation 2002 to be effective on the said date, requires that all importers and local manufacturers of domestic gas appliances such as cookers, water heaters and portable cassette cookers for use in Hong Kong shall have the appliances type approved by the Gas Authority, that is, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services.

"The Regulation, however, does not affect the existing domestic gas appliances in service or their re-installation," the spokesman explained.

To facilitate identification by consumers, models of approved gas appliances shall bear the specified mark known as "GU Mark" to indicate compliance with conditions for type approval including international safety standards and local operating requirements. At present, more than

370 models of appliances have been approved under the scheme.

The Regulation also requires that no person shall supply or sell non-approved models of domestic gas appliances imported on or after January 1, 2003. Any person who fails to comply with mandatory requirements relating to the importation, manufacture in Hong Kong, sale and supply of domestic gas appliances for use in Hong Kong will be liable on first conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000 and

one-year imprisonment.

In addition, registered gas installers will not be allowed to install non-approved models of domestic gas appliances except for re-installation of existing ones installed before January 1, 2003. Any person who installs a new non-approved model of appliance will be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000.

"Consumers are advised to purchase approved models of domestic gas appliances for use in Hong Kong," said the spokesman, adding that information on the approved models can be obtained by dialing EMSD's hotline 2882 8011 or browsing its website http://www.emsd.gov.hk/.

End/ Friday, December 6, 2002

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