S.L. 427.51 Art. 5Essential requirements for plugs, socket- outlets, etc.

(1) Subregulations (2), (3)(a) to (c), (4), (5), (6)(a) and (b),

(7)(a) to (d), (8) and (9) shall apply to the following electrical accessories namely any plug, socket-outlet or adaptor ordinarily intended for domestic use at a rated voltage of not less than 200 volts, but does not apply to any electrical accessory specified in Schedule I.

(2) No person shall supply, offer for supply, agree to supply, expose for supply or possess for supply an electrical accessory unless the requirements of subregulation (3) are satisfied in relation to it.

(3) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the requirements of this regulation are that the electrical accessory complies with the requirements of subregulations (4) to (7)(d) or (9) as appropriate.

(b) A standard plug shall incorporate a fuse link which conforms to MSA BS 1362.

(c) A standard plug shall be intended for use in ac circuits only, operating at rated voltages of not less than 200V at 50 Hz and for carrying current loads up to 13A.

(4) A standard plug shall be of a type approved by a conformity assessment body, and in respect of which such approval has not been cancelled, and in determining applications made to it for such approval the conformity assessment body shall not grant such approval unless it is satisfied -

(a) that plugs of that type conform to MSA BS 1363; and

(b) by means of inspection or testing of samples of plugs of that type, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type conforming to that standard.

(5) Without prejudice to subregulation (6), where standard plugs have for the purposes of subregulation (4) been subjected to a type test as described in MSA BS 1363 and a particular sample has failed to satisfy the test, then, notwithstanding any provision in the standard whereby on a successful re-test of a sample such plugs are deemed to conform to the standard, such plugs shall be treated for the purposes of this regulation as not conforming to the standard.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulations (4) and (5), a type of standard plug may be approved by a conformity assessment body where plugs of that type do not conform to MSA BS 1363 if, when determining an application for approval, the conformity assessment body is satisfied that:

(a) (i) the plugs are constructed using an alternative method of construction which provides an equivalent level of safety in respect of any risk of death or personal injury to plugs which conform to MSA BS 1363 and is such that plugs of that type may reasonably be expected to be safe in use; and

(ii) except in respect of the matter for which alternative provision is made, plugs of that type conform to MSA BS 1363; and

(iii) by means of inspection or testing of samples of plugs of that type, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type corresponding with the samples; or

(b) where paragraph (a) does not apply, following inspection or testing of samples of the plug, that such plugs may reasonably be expected to be safe in use and is further satisfied, by inspection or testing of samples, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type corresponding with the samples.

(7) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) and subregulation (8), an approval granted by a conformity assessment body may be unconditional or subject to such conditions, which must be complied with if the approval is to apply, as the conformity assessment body considers appropriate in relation to the approval of the type of standard plug in question.

(b) A condition shall be attached to any such approval requiring the applicant, during the currency of the approval, to give to the conformity assessment body granting the approval such notice as may be specified in the approval of any changes in the standard plugs of the type approved.

(c) The conditions imposed pursuant to paragraph (a) may be varied by the conformity assessment body which granted the approval, and a variation under this paragraph may include the imposition of new conditions or the withdrawal of conditions.

(d) Any approval given under subregulation (4) shall remain in force for seven years or such shorter period as may be specified in the approval.

(8) Before making an unfavourable decision in respect of an applicant, that is to say -

(a) refusing to grant approval pursuant to subregulations (4), (5), (6)(a) and (b) and (7)(a) to (d);

(b) the imposition of a condition on an approval or the making of a restrictive variation of a condition thereof pursuant to subregulations (4), (5), (6)(a) and (b), (7)(a) to (d) in circumstances where the applicant has not indicated in writing that the type of standard plug concerned is suitable for use subject to that condition; or

(c) the cancellation of an approval, a conformity assessment body shall -

(i) give notice in writing to the applicant or holder of the approval concerned, as the case may be, of the reasons why it proposes to make the unfavourable decision; and

(ii) give the person to whom notice is given in subparagraph (i) the opportunity of making representations within a period of twenty-eight days of the notice being given as to why that body should make a favourable decision, and consider any representations which are made by that person within that period.

(9) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, any electrical accessory (other than a standard plug) specified in column 2 of Schedule II shall conform to the particular Maltese Standard specified for such accessories in column 3 of that Schedule.