The warning issued by the Fachverband Seile und Anschlagmittel e.V. (FSA) trade association about serious safety deficiencies in lashing straps and loop straps sold by Temu is alarming. The results of the test purchases show that some of these products do not fulfil fundamental safety requirements and thus pose a significant risk to users.
Dangerous weaknesses in safety-critical products
The tests conducted reveal disturbing deficits. Among other things, lashing straps are equipped with significantly insufficient strength, so that they can break or fail under load. Particularly problematic is the deformation of components such as profile hooks or locking sliders, which can come loose even before the specified load limits are reached. In practice, this can have devastating consequences – whether it be in the transport of loads by road or in other safety-related applications.
The defects in the tested loop straps are even more dramatic. Here it was found that the breaking strength of the straps was up to 75% below the required standard. In an emergency, such a quality defect can lead to fatal accidents. In addition, essential markings, such as the maximum permissible working load (WLL) or standardised colour coding, are missing or incorrectly indicated. This not only deceives the buyer, but also makes the safe use of these products almost impossible.
Poor quality control and lack of liability
The case is a prime example of how online platforms such as Temu use aggressive pricing models to undermine European safety standards. While manufacturers within the EU are subject to strict standards, products that do not meet basic safety requirements are repeatedly offered on online marketplaces. Particularly problematic in this regard is the lack of responsibility on the part of the platforms. Although they profit economically from the sale of these products, in many cases it is unclear who is ultimately liable for defective or dangerous goods.
Another problem is the unauthorised CE marking. The FSA’s tests show that some of the non-compliant products bear a CE mark that appears to have been affixed unlawfully. This misleads consumers and suggests a level of safety that is not actually present.
Need for action by policymakers and market surveillance authorities
The market surveillance authority of the Düsseldorf district government is now involved, but the challenge goes beyond individual cases. The trade association is rightly calling for stricter import controls and greater liability for online platforms that enable the distribution of unsafe products.
It is not enough to rely on random checks and reports to the authorities. Rather, online retailers must be actively obliged to ensure that the sale of safety-critical products is subject to compliance with the applicable standards. This is where politics comes into play: stricter regulation of imports and a more consistent approach to dealing with suppliers who repeatedly bring unsafe goods into circulation are essential.
Conclusion: Cheap must not mean dangerous
The case shows impressively that extreme price-dumping models are not without risk – especially when safety-related products are involved. Consumers should be aware that quality and safety have their price. At the same time, authorities and legislators must act more quickly and consistently to restrict the market for unsafe cheap products. Otherwise, buyers may not only suffer financial losses but also face serious risks to life and limb.
Photo 1: The profile hooks are already bent open before reaching the LC. (Photo: FSA)
Photo 2: The locking slide has deformed in an impermissible way in the hand lever test. (Photo: FSA)
Figure 3: Incorrect or no labelling of the associated WLL. (Photo: FSA)
Figure 4: Incorrect colour coding of the sling, contrary to the stated DIN EN 1492-1. (Photo: FSA)
