ESTI Market Surveillance 2025: Ensuring a High Level of Safety for Electrical Products Through Targeted Inspections and Effective Measures
As part of its risk-based market surveillance program, the Swiss Federal High-Voltage Inspectorate (ESTI) conducted targeted inspections of more than 1,000 electrical products in 2025 to verify their compliance and safety. The inspections revealed a high overall level of safety. At the same time, approximately one in four products tested had defects.
The ESTI consistently took action against unsafe or non-compliant products and issued sales bans, recalls, and safety warnings. Market surveillance of low-voltage electrical products is conducted by the ESTI throughout Switzerland and is carried out in accordance with the Ordinance on Low-Voltage Electrical Products (NEV; SR 734.26). Electrical products for household, office, commercial, and industrial use are tested on a random and risk-based basis to verify their compliance with electrical safety requirements.
2025 Inspections: An Overview
In 2025, a total of 1,001 products were inspected. The inspections were conducted both online and on-site at retail outlets and specialty stores. In addition, inspections were carried out directly at manufacturers‘ facilities, at trade shows, and based on reports from third parties.
In total, defects were found in 281 products. Of these, 172 involved electrical safety issues. The remaining defects included, for example, missing or incomplete certificates of conformity, markings, or technical documentation.
ESTI’s market surveillance, in accordance with the provisions of the NEV, is limited to assessing the electrical safety of low-voltage products. This covers hazards arising from electrical design, electrical function, electrical components, protective measures, connection devices, electrical fault conditions, or the safety information required for these purposes.
65 sales bans imposed
In the event of a potential immediate danger to persons, or if evidence of conformity is missing or incomplete, ESTI may prohibit the making available of a product on the market. The legal basis for this is the NEV and the Ordinance on Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (VGSEB; SR 734.6). During the reporting year, 65 sales bans were issued. The affected products were primarily from the sectors of installation materials, household and office appliances, lighting fixtures, and chargers. These also included individual products intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, as well as numerous electrical products with non-compliant foreign plugs.
Pursuant to the Federal Act on Product Safety (PrSG; SR 930.11), economic operators in Switzerland, in cooperation with ESTI, have recalled defective products from the market in 23 cases. In eight cases, these recalls or safety warnings were also published on the communication channels of the Office for Consumer Affairs (BFK) at www.konsum.admin.ch or. www.recallswiss.admin.ch published. The products affected included power banks and other rechargeable batteries, household appliances (cordless vacuum cleaners and hot-air fryers), and electrical accessories (travel adapters and other plug adapters).
Safety defects in electrical products are usually not visible to consumers. Critical issues include, for example, substandard electrical components, inadequate insulation, poor connections, missing safety features, or defective chargers and batteries. Such products can cause electric shocks, overheating, or fires.
Be Careful When Making Direct Purchases Abroad
The ESTI monitors the electrical safety of electrical appliances sold in Switzerland. Under the NEV, the ESTI cannot prevent private individuals from making direct purchases on foreign platforms. Anyone who orders an electrical appliance directly from a foreign seller assumes a higher risk and, in the event of a problem, often has no easily accessible point of contact in Switzerland.
Electrical appliances are often offered at strikingly low prices on major online platforms. Caution is advised, especially when it comes to listings on platforms based in Asia. However, not every inexpensive product is unsafe. Suspiciously low prices, though, may be an indication that corners were cut in testing, materials, or workmanship.
What to Look for When Making a Purchase
Special caution is advised for products without clear manufacturer information, without accessible customer service, without understandable operating instructions, or with plugs that do not comply with Swiss standards. The CE mark is not an independent certification mark. It merely confirms that the manufacturer declares compliance with applicable legal requirements. Devices with German safety plugs (Schuko plugs) can also pose a safety risk. Such plugs can become overloaded during use and thereby cause a fire. Consumers should refuse to purchase such electrical appliances directly at the point of sale. Furthermore, they may not be sold to consumers or to industry in Switzerland.
ESTI recommends purchasing electrical appliances from reputable retailers with a valid contact address and clear product information. Recognized certification marks provide additional guidance. One such recognized Swiss certification mark is ESTI’s voluntary safety mark. Certified devices are listed on the ESTI website.
Anyone who has doubts about the safety of an electrical appliance should refrain from purchasing it or continue to use it. Suspicious products can be reported to ESTI. Reports can be submitted via the contact form on the ESTI website or through the SECO reporting office: www.esti.admin.ch or. https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/de/home/Arbeit/Arbeitsbedingungen/Produktsicherheit/meldung_gefaehrlicher_produkte.html. Providing as detailed a description as possible of the suspected hazard makes it easier to process the report.
Source: ESTI
