Lead in popular electronics. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection withdraws smartwatches and headphones from sale

The Trade Inspection detected exceedances of the permissible standards of hazardous substances in 4 out of 30 inspected models of headphones and smartwatches – informed the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. Due to construction defects, the inspection questioned 5 out of 9 models of exercise benches.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection announced that the voivodeship inspectorates of the Trade Inspection in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Kielce, Kraków, Olsztyn and Szczecin carried out from June to October 2025. controls 30 models of wireless headphones and smartwatches. Both product labeling and the content of hazardous substances were checked, including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and bromine.

Products from China

The inspections covered 21 stationary stores. Of the tested products, 29 came from China and one from Vietnam. Inspectors verified, among others: declarations of conformity, CE marking, manufacturer's or importer's data, product identification and instructions in Polish.

Formal irregularities were found in 3 models, and in 2 of them more than one defect was detected. In two cases, the declarations of conformity were incorrectly prepared, and in another two cases, the lack of CE marking and the lack of data enabling the identification of the equipment.

Laboratory tests showed exceeding the permissible standards of hazardous substances in 4 out of 30 inspected models. In all these cases, the lead content was found to be above 1,500 mg/kg, with the applicable limit of 1,000 mg/kg. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection reminds that lead may penetrate from electrical waste into the natural environment and negatively affect human health.

Due to the results of the inspection The Trade Inspection will submit four applications to the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection to initiate administrative proceedingsand the questioned products will be withdrawn from sale. In one case, in which only formal deficiencies were found, the manufacturer had already taken corrective actions.

The problem with exercise benches

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection also announced that the provincial inspectorates of the Trade Inspection in Białystok, Gdańsk, Kielce, Opole, Rzeszów and Szczecin carried out inspections of 9 models of training equipment from July to September 2025 – exercise benches. In addition to the marking, physical and mechanical parameters affecting the safety of users were also checked.

The inspections covered six manufacturers, one retail outlet and one large-format store. Four products came from Poland, two from other EU countries and three from outside the European Union. Inspectors verified, among others: data identifying the manufacturer or importer, product markings, warnings and installation, use and maintenance instructions in Polish.

Formal irregularities were found in some of the products, such as missing or incomplete manufacturer's data, incomplete instructions, incorrect warnings or instructions only in a foreign language. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection indicates that this may lead to improper use of equipment by consumers.

Technical tests revealed design defects in 5 out of 9 models. They concerned, among others, loss of stability of the bench during training, unstable barbell supports and places where the user's hands may get stuck.

In relation to all five structurally defective products, the Trade Inspection sent applications to the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection to initiate administrative proceedings. Entities responsible for introducing them to trading may face fines of up to PLN 100,000. zloty.

In the case of four models questioned solely because of their labeling, entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to take corrective actions under the supervision of the Trade Inspection. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection reminds that a fine of up to PLN 1 million may be imposed on the market for products that do not meet general safety requirements. (PAP)

pif/pad/