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Millions of illegal products destroyed

Johannesburg - Over 264 283 inspections were conducted between 2008 and 2013, resulting in illegal products worth R438m being destroyed, the department of trade and industry said on Wednesday.

"Some of the seized illicit products have long been regarded as instruments of destruction and, often, even death," Davies said in a statement.

Davies said the 264 283 inspections were conducted countrywide between the 2008/09 and 2013/14 financial years and had resulted in non-compliant products worth R438m being destroyed.

"Included in this list of these products are paraffin stoves, of which the overwhelming majority are so dangerous that they are able to set off fires that can rage through informal settlements, razing dozens and even hundreds of dwellings within minutes," he said.

Most of these stoves were produced by countries in Asia and brought illegally into South Africa.

The department was intensifying its efforts to root out and prevent contraband goods from entering the country.

Other dangerous products included various types of electrical appliances.

"Officials have warned that even cellphone chargers may not be as harmless as might be thought.

"Many of these goods have failed quality checks in their countries of origin (usually in Asia) and have ended up being sold in street stalls and fleamarkets in South Africa," he said.

The battle to track down, intercept and confiscate illegal products is intensifying as detection methods improve.

"While it is the responsibility of SA Revenue Service's customs division to seize fake and un-invoiced goods, which have generally proven to be sub-standard, the department is playing an important supportive role."

The SA Bureau of Standards and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications both had mandates to lock out sub-standard and non-compliant goods, he said.

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