It could be the washing machine, the dryer, the blender, or the microwave you are planning to buy. Consumers are advised not to compromise on the safety standards in return for a cheap electrical appliance that could explode any minute. And they are in abundance in the market. Almost 80 percent of electrical home appliances in the Saudi market do not meet the quality standards of the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO), said Abdullah Al-Hussayen, Minister of Water and Electricity, during a workshop on quality standards in electrical appliances here on Monday. The findings were based on a recent market survey done by the ministry, he said. The quality standards of electrical appliances were inked 25 years ago, yet importers and local manufactures have ignored them, he said. With recent high-profile home fire incidents involving low-quality electrical home appliances, the ministry is gathering momentum to fight back the flood of those of unsafe electrical products which could pose fire hazards, he said. The ministry's fight plan to combat below-standard appliances in the market includes inspecting imported appliances at the points of entry in the Kingdom, inspecting local factories, and monitoring local markets for any violation. – Okaz __
