Pursuant to Regulation 102 of the Electricity Regulations 1997 ("the Regulations"), I, Mark Stephen Wogan, Operations Manager Energy Safety, give the following notice.
N o t i c e
1. Short title and commencement (1) This notice is the Electricity Regulations (Prohibited Electrical Fitting - Universal Adaptors marked with specific "MAX.2200W110~250V") Notice 2009.
(2) This prohibition is to take effect on and from the date following the date of publication of this notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
2. Prohibited equipment The manufacture, importation, sale, installation and use of the electrical fitting, being "Universal Adaptors" marked specifically with "MAX.2200W110~250V" as prescribed in this notice, is prohibited.
3. Description (1) The electrical fittings to which this notice applies are "Universal Adaptors" marked specifically with "MAX.2200W110~250V" available from a number of pharmacies nationwide, although it may have been available elsewhere.
(2) The form of packaging may vary.
(3) The packaging wording may contain the wording "Melric Travel", "Universal Adaptor", "Item No:1016" or "Travel
& Go™?", "Universal Adaptor", "Travel Accessories" or may be referred to as an "All-in-one adapter" or "Universal travel plug adaptor".
(4) The package wording may also include the wording "Ideal for travelling", "All-in-one unit includes the five most common plugs", "Configurations to eliminate the need for multiple adapters, availably using in more than 175 countries, including most parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Russia", "Complete with safety lock and surge protector", "Dimension: 7.5 x 4.4 x 4.0 cm" and 3? x 1 3/4? x 1 3/5?.
(5) The Universal Adaptor fitting marked specifically with "MAX.2200W110~250V" is known to exist in an overall white or grey colour.
(6) The Universal Adaptor fitting marked specifically with "MAX.2200W110~250V" also has the following markings:
"10-16A 250V", "CE", "UK SP", "EUROPE USA. JAPAN CHINA. AUST. THAI" and "LOCK ? OPEN".
(7) The images below are examples of Universal Adaptors to which this notice applies for identification purposes.

SCANNED PICS HERE

4. Details of hazard The "Universal Adaptors" constitute, or may constitute, an electrical hazard in that:
(a) The travel adaptor socket-outlet has no earth continuity. This may constitute an electric shock hazard to the user if connecting a Class I appliance to the socket-outlet in the event of an insulation failure.
(b) If a supply plug is incorrectly inserted, the user may be exposed to an electrical shock. This may constitute an electric shock hazard to the user if incorrectly inserting a supply plug into the socket-outlet portion of the "Universal Adaptor" as it is possible to insert one plug contact pin, while the other live pin is exposed.
(c) When inserting a "Universal Adaptor" into a supply socket, the user may be exposed to an electrical shock, from other exposed parts that may be live. This may constitute an electric shock hazard to the user as the contact pins of the adaptor can be exposed while live and therefore touched prior to or during use.
5. Reasons for prohibition The "Universal Adaptors" described in this notice are unsafe and therefore constitute, or
may constitute, an electrical hazard in that there is significant risk of injury or death to any person who uses the device.
The "Universal Adaptors" are non-compliant under Regulations 76 and 76A of the Electricity Regulations 1997, in that:
- The adaptors do not comply with the standard AS/NZS 3820 (Regulation 76(1));
- In normal use, the adaptors may function unsafely so as to cause danger to persons (Regulation 76A(1)(a));
- The adaptors have inadequate protection against direct contact or indirect contact (Regulation 76A(1)(b)).
- The adaptors are constructed in that they are not safe under both normal and abnormal conditions of use (Regulation
76A(2)(c)).
Dated at Wellington this 25th day of November 2009.
MARK STEPHEN WOGAN, Operations Manager, Ministry of Economic Development - Energy Safety.