Most of the failures (23 samples; 31 %) were due to lack of formal documentation or markings on the product or packaging.
The remaining failures (31 samples; 42 %) were due to performance problems, the most common of which were safety at high temperature – mainly for camping cookers. For the other two product types, the most common failures were cross lighting (when one gas burner is ignited by the flame of a neighbouring burner), safety of operation and temperature.
Testing campaign
The products were tested by an accredited independent laboratory for compliance with EU standards for gas appliances, which include criteria such as design, performance, safety and markings.Of the 54 failures, 37 were classified as low risk, five as medium risk, four as high risk, one as serious risk, and one as no risk, while the assessments of the remaining samples are ongoing. Actions taken by MSAs included ordering products to be withdrawn from the market, asking economic operators to provide documentation and make product improvements.
Recommendations
Given these concerns, what can consumers do to ensure they buy a good quality product? Anyone looking to buy a new barbecue, gas stove or camping cooker should give preference to products from reliable sources in Europe, ensure that the product has CE marking and that the user manual and safety instructions are available in the national language(s) of their country.Online reviews as well as sites such as the European Commission’s Safety Gate — the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products — and the Information and Communication System on Market Surveillance (ICSMS) are good places to check if a product has been listed as dangerous.
Economic operators are advised to ensure that the product has undergone the required conformity assessment and that they have the documentation to prove it.
JACOP 2025
The testing was part of the Joint Actions on Compliance of Products (JACOP) 2025 market surveillance campaign. Organised across the EU and EFTA countries, JACOP helps keep the single market safe by strengthening cooperation between MSAs and coordinating testing approaches.It enables MSAs to jointly evaluate products, determine risks and ensure manufacturers take corrective action. The 2025 edition covers 11 product types.
“Campaigns like JACOP protect European consumers from dangerous appliances and safeguard reputable businesses against competitors who try to circumvent EU rules,” said DG GROW Policy Officer, Vanessa Capurso.
