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Whirlpool told to recall dryers in 'unprecedented' government move Whirlpool told to recall dryers in 'unprecedented' government move
(about 11 hours later)
The government is to serve a recall notice on Whirlpool over concerns about the safety of its tumble dryers. The government is to issue an "unprecedented" recall notice of up to 500,000 Whirlpool tumble dryers which pose a fire safety risk.
The "unprecedented step" means the company will have to recall hundreds of thousands of appliances over fears they pose a fire safety risk. It comes four years after Whirlpool issued a warning after it found its Hotpoint, Creda and Indesit dryers had a fault which needed fixing.
It comes after 5.3 million dryers under Whirlpool's Hotpoint, Creda and Indesit brands required modifying after several fires, including a tower block blaze. The fault was blamed for at least 750 fires over an 11-year period, according to the government.
Whirlpool said safety was its "number one priority".Whirlpool said safety was its "number one priority".
The company estimates that between 300,000 and 500,000 faulty products could still be in UK homes, three years after the first safety notice was issued - although there is no definitive register to judge the accuracy of the estimate. It urged anyone still owning an affected to dryer to contact the company immediately on 0800 151 0905.
A spokeswoman added: "In the meantime, anyone with an affected dryer that has not been modified should unplug it and not use it until the modification has been completed."
An estimated 5.3 million dryers were sold in the UK, but it is thought up to 500,000 could still be in use.
Last year, the BBC's Watchdog Live consumer programme uncovered cases in which machines had caught fire even after being fixed.Last year, the BBC's Watchdog Live consumer programme uncovered cases in which machines had caught fire even after being fixed.
And in April, the Office for Product Safety and Standards published a report, urging Whirlpool to improve its risk management, and "reach affected consumers in more creative ways" to minimise the risk of faulty machines still being in people's homes. And in April, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published a report, urging Whirlpool to improve its risk management, and "reach affected consumers in more creative ways" to minimise the risk of faulty machines still being in people's homes.
The recall notice was announced in the Commons by business minister Kelly Tolhurst after former Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths raised "great concern" over Whirlpool's "straightness". Business minister Kelly Tolhurst told the Commons that the recall notice was "unprecedented action".
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Griffiths said despite the OPSS's "thorough review" he was still concerned about whether people still had "unsafe products" in their homes. She was responding to Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths, who told MPs that he was still concerned about whether people still had "unsafe products" in their homes.
Business minister Kelly Tolhurst replied, saying: "I can tell the House we have informed Whirlpool of our intention to serve a recall notice as a next step of the regulatory process," adding: "This is unprecedented action."
Rachel Reeves, Labour chairwoman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said the move was "long overdue".Rachel Reeves, Labour chairwoman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said the move was "long overdue".
"Finally, over a year since we called for a recall of defective machines and 18 months since the Beis Committee reported on Whirlpool's inadequate response to safety flaws, the government is at last showing some teeth," she said."Finally, over a year since we called for a recall of defective machines and 18 months since the Beis Committee reported on Whirlpool's inadequate response to safety flaws, the government is at last showing some teeth," she said.
David Chaplin, a spokesman from consumer group Which? said there were still "serious questions" if the recall only addressed the 500,000 unmodified machines that "Whirlpool has already struggled to locate". David Chaplin, a spokesman for consumer group Which? said there were still "serious questions" about the 500,000 unmodified machines that "Whirlpool has already struggled to locate".
He said: "People's lives have been put at risk for far too long, so it's a hugely significant step that these machines are set to be recalled.He said: "People's lives have been put at risk for far too long, so it's a hugely significant step that these machines are set to be recalled.
"The government must urgently explain what it is going to do about the millions of modified machines still in people's homes, following serious concerns that have been raised by people who have experienced fires, smoke and burning despite the so-called fix.""The government must urgently explain what it is going to do about the millions of modified machines still in people's homes, following serious concerns that have been raised by people who have experienced fires, smoke and burning despite the so-called fix."
A Whirlpool Corporation spokeswoman said: "We remain committed to resolving any affected tumble dryers that have not yet been modified.A Whirlpool Corporation spokeswoman said: "We remain committed to resolving any affected tumble dryers that have not yet been modified.
"To this end, we are in ongoing discussions with the Office for Product Safety and Standards to agree additional measures we have proposed to reach consumers who have not yet engaged with this safety programme."To this end, we are in ongoing discussions with the Office for Product Safety and Standards to agree additional measures we have proposed to reach consumers who have not yet engaged with this safety programme.
"We have co-operated with OPSS throughout its recent review of the programme and welcome its findings that consumers whose tumble dryers have been modified can continue to use them safely. "We have co-operated with OPSS throughout its recent review of the programme and welcome its findings that consumers whose tumble dryers have been modified can continue to use them safely."
"The crucial message to anyone who still owns an affected dryer and has not already had it modified by Whirlpool is to contact us immediately. Have you had problems with an affected dryer? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
"In the meantime, anyone with an affected dryer that has not been modified should unplug it and not use it until the modification has been completed." Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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