How to prohibit unsafe consumer products:

Lesson from electricity industry

by Dr Tilak Siyambalapitiya

The list gets longer by the day. glyphosate, asbestos, thin polythene, palm oil, coconut oil and now, chemical fertiliser and insecticides. I have no knowledge of whether the above-mentioned products should be prohibited or not. However, I can explain the process followed over four years starting 2015, to prohibit unsafe electrical plugs, sockets and converters. The experience revealed that still there are experts, academics and efficient state officers, who are willing to dedicate time and effort, for no extra payment, and drive a transition to prohibit an unsafe product. Systematically, not in an ad-hoc manner––certainly not overnight––provided there are no politicians messing around, trying to accelerate or buckle the process of transition and prohibition.

It was an unusually rainy day in January 2015. Electrical engineers of the Institution of Engineers (IESL) were discussing the safe use of electricity. A worried member highlighted the increasing deaths and fires caused by unsafe plugs, sockets, multi-sockets and extension cords. A total of 180 deaths a year by electrocution. “Toddler dies playing with extension cord”, or, “five shops in Pettah gutted – electrical short circuit suspected”, were frequent headlines.

You buy a new appliance or borrow an appliance from your neighbour. You struggle to connect it to the wall socket because the plug is of a different shape. Run to the shop again, bargain and buy the cheapest multi-socket, make the connection and be happy. You have just made the most dangerous electrical connection; loose, fire hazard, no safety shutter.

Not anymore.

By now, your familiar round pin plug, sockets and the multi-socket are not available in the shops. Aiyo, who prohibited this round-pin plug; even my grandmother used it, but now, no more. Here is why and how it was prohibited.

Step by step up to approval

First, a research paper on the what were in use and what the options were was prepared by an undergraduate of the Jaffna University. I, too, was surprised to learn that there were 15 types of plugs, used in the country, and three types of sockets on the wall. Yes, 15 to three! Thirty countries used one single standard, meaning all plugs and all wall sockets everywhere, in such countries, match each other. Dangerous multi-sockets are not required. The study concluded that the 13-ampere rectangular pin plug and socket should be Sri Lanka’s unique standard.

How on earth did we get there? Fifteen down to one plug, and three down to one socket. Did we force all households to rewire, replace sockets and cut the plugs and put new plugs? No. Such action would have led to a protest march from the Fort Railway Station to the Presidential Secretariat. Unlike items that are frequently ‘prohibited’, a plug and a socket last for 20 years. The transition is going to be complicated, long and painful. This is where the collective professional expertise and wisdom mattered.

The Institution turned to the Public Utilities Commission, which is legally responsible for ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity. A committee, assembled by the commission, had the country’s finest professionals (i) experienced electrical engineers, (ii) a respected academic, (iii) electricity distributors CEB and LECO, (iv) Sri Lanka Standards Institution, (iv) Import Export Control Dept, (v) Sri Lanka Customs, (vi) Consumer Affairs Authority, (vii) Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, and most importantly, (viii) manufacturers and suppliers of plugs, sockets, accessories.

The committee debated for five months, examined all possible options and problems expected in transition. What would happen to raw material available with manufacturers, half-manufactured goods, stocks with traders and shops? Substandard plugs, sockets, converters on order, in transit, for sale in shops and on pavement in Colombo?

Procedures to follow were many. Sri Lanka Standards publishes standards and tests devices presented to them; they cannot issue prohibitions, which has to be done by the Consumer Affairs Authority. If the import of any item is prohibited, it should align with WTO accords Sri Lanka has ratified. The Sri Lanka Customs Department implements import prohibitions; the Consumer Affairs Authority monitors local manufacture and sale prohibitions.

Complicated procedure, but fair enough. There is a neat system to prohibit import, manufacture, display and sale of an undesirable product.

The new standard will be the rectangular pin plug and socket, engineers concurred. If households are not compelled to change the wall sockets, and if new appliances will all have “square pin” plugs, isn’t it the same problem as we have now? Each problem had a solution and a time frame to implement. All this was included in the concept paper.

The next step was to hold a public consultation. Views expressed were overwhelmingly in support of the transition plan, to achieve a single standard: 13 ampere, “square” pin. There were only two dissenting views on sentimental grounds. So far, no politicians on the scene!

By now, it was almost two years since the first meeting at the Institution of Engineers. No need to hurry, but no need to delay either.

Cabinet approval was obtained for a two-year transition in four steps to prohibit non-standard plugs, sockets and accessories.

Step 1:

August 2016: An announcement was made prohibiting new wiring to have non-standard sockets, encouraging imports and production in transit to conclude soon. Sale of non-standard items was NOT prohibited yet.

Step 2:

August 2017: Regulation was issued under Import Export Control Act, prohibiting import of non-standard plugs, sockets, multi-sockets, converters. Sale of non-standard items was NOT prohibited, yet.

Step 3:

December 2017: Regulations were issued under Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act to prohibit sale or manufacture from January 2019 (a one-year grace period). Publicity and seminars to encourage selling off stocks. The sale of non-standard items was NOT prohibited, yet.

Step 4:

January 2019: Prohibition became effective. Only “square pin” plugs, sockets, extension cords and converters were allowed. The CAA commenced raids.

Throughout the process, the efficiency of state officials was at its highest. The SLSI promised to prepare the new standards in six months but completed them in five. Gazettes under import-export control were issued on the dot, with officers working overnight on the due date. Prohibition under Import Export Control Act required re-definition of customs codes, which was handled by excellent officials from Sri Lanka Customs and the Ministry of Finance. Officers from the CAA issued regulations and implemented them on the dot.

Still no politicians on the scene. The Public Utilities Commission too did not invite politicians to numerous seminars and meetings. The entire process was managed by officials and professionals.

Politicians would be just another group of electricity customers, who would also benefit when the plug exactly matched the wall socket––always.

Success is 90%

Now, almost two and a half years since the prohibition became effective, all appliances for sale have had square pin plugs. New wall sockets being sold are also of the same type. If not, please inform the CAA. All new houses and buildings have the square pin sockets on walls. The transition is 90% successful. Why not 100%?

Imported unsafe multi-sockets are still ‘leaking’ into the market in small quantities. The square-to-round and round-to-square safe convertor with SLS certification is still not popular. Locally manufactured ‘extension cords’ are still not SLS compliant; university professors are assisting such local manufacturers to upgrade the quality of thier products. The socket with modern USB is now allowed, but local manufacturers have not come forward to produce it. So, six years on, there is still more work to be done.

In fact, the complete transition will take 20 years or more, until the last socket on the wall breaks off. Follow procedures, examine all issues in full, allow professionals to manage it, give adequate time for transition, are the lessons learned.

If the “Minister” had announced that round pin sockets would be banned from the following week, the process would definitely have been a flop. Shops would have continued to be gutted due to “electrical short circuits”. The public would have a good laugh, as they do now, when they hear of something to be “banned”. Because they are sure the decision will be reversed.

The transition of a relatively simple product to a safe product took four years. This is a lesson as regards how the transition of more serious products should be carried out.