Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is to introduce a ban on the sale of plastic backed (a) fridges, (b) freezers and (c) fridge freezers.

Action to improve the safety of fridges and freezers has been led by the UK at a global level. The UK Government worked closely with the British Standards Institution and the International and European Standardisation Committees to update the fire safety requirements in the Standard for refrigeration appliances which has applied since 11 July 2019.

The essential safety requirements which must be met for fridges and other white goods are set out in the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. From 11 July 2019, any business using the revised Standard for refrigeration appliances to demonstrate compliance with legal safety requirements under the Regulations, will need to ensure their appliances pass the tests introduced in the revised Standard. Refrigeration appliances using flammable materials will not pass the tests introduced in the new Standard.