The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued warnings to all trade associations and trading standards officers about a flood of counterfeit plugs and fuses reaching the UK market.
Trading standards estimates that up to 10 million counterfeit or poor quality fuses have reached the UK market within the last year. These products are often found inside plugs, which are sometimes counterfeit themselves, attached to imported appliances.

The best indications that a fuse is fake are the colour and weight – they are much whiter than genuine products and lighter, usually under 2.2 g, due to the lack of sand filler. The fuse endcaps may also be loose.

The fuses commonly carry fake approval marks.

The Electrical Installation Equipment Manufacturers' Association (EIEMA) has emphasised that the supply of plugs and socket-outlets which carry the CE mark is an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. UK regulations require plugs to comply with BS 1363 and be approved by a relevant body such as ASTA, NSAI or NEMKO. Plugs must be supplied with a fuse complying to BS 1362.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor