North Tyneside Council’s Trading Standards team has destroyed over 100 pieces of furniture and electrical goods after they failed critical safety checks.
They launched an investigation after a complaint about unlabelled furniture being sold at Sham Al-Ezz Furniture, North Shields.
Officers visited the trader, provided guidance on labelling and safety standards, and issued suspension notices to stop the sale of the items pending safety tests.
Three armchairs failed flammability tests under The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, posing a significant fire hazard.
An electric flame effect cabinet breached multiple regulations, including The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994.
Following the investigation, the trader voluntarily surrendered the remaining stock which included 27 sofas, 24 armchairs, 48 dining chairs, three bed bases, three mattresses, and 14 electric flame effect cabinets.
The upholstered furniture lacked the required safety labelling, leaving consumers without vital information and making the items impossible to trace. Even more troubling, the furniture was found to be highly flammable, creating a serious fire risk.
The electric flame effect cabinets were equally hazardous, with no proper labelling, missing CE/UKCA markings, and a lack of safety warnings or instructions. These products were fitted with unsafe European-style two-pin plugs without fuses, failing to meet British safety standards.
Councillor Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “This operation demonstrates the crucial work we do to protect residents from unsafe products. Items that fail flammability tests or electrical safety standards can have devastating consequences. By acting swiftly and decisively, we’ve prevented these goods from posing a threat to our community."
The council urges residents to remain vigilant when purchasing furniture or electrical goods, advising them to check for safety labelling, CE/UKCA markings, and proper instructions. Anyone with concerns about unsafe products is encouraged to contact the Trading Standards team on 0345 404 0506 or by emailing trading.standards@northtyneside.gov.uk