Trading standards on ‘high alert’ over faulty hover boards
OVER 17,000 hover boards have been detained coming into the UK as the majority of self-balancing scooters – this year’s must-have Christmas present – have been deemed unsafe.
Trading standards has confiscated the boards due to a range of safety issues concerning the plug, cabling, battery and the cut-off switch within the board.
Many of the items sent for testing have been found to have noncompliant plugs without fuses, which increases the risk of the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.
Products that have been tested have failed with significant safety issues and over 15,000 products detained have identical or very similar features to those already deemed as unsafe. With such large numbers being sent for testing since October many testing houses are full to capacity and additional staff training is under way to help meet the demand.
Highland Council’s trading standards team leader, Mark McGinty, said: “From a local perspective, we are on a state of high alert and so far have not experienced any unsafe hover boards but are advising the trade and public to be vigilant when considering buying such products.”

Lord Toby Harris, chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Our teams at sea ports, postal hubs and airports have seen a significant spike in the number of unsafe ‘hover boards’ arriving at national entry points in recent weeks and are working around the clock to prevent dangerous items from entering the supply chain.
“Protecting consumers from harm is our top priority and our safety at ports and borders teams are preventing thousands of these unsafe items from being released onto the market every day.
“We suspect that most of these products are being imported for onward sale domestically as Christmas approaches – we urge consumers to be on their guard when purchasing these products and advise you read our product safety checklist to help ensure you are not purchasing a dangerous item.”