Mohamed Helal, President of the Federation of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Associations and Organizations, revealed that Egypt annually imports components of more than 200 million poorly manufactured LED bulbs that do not conform to international specifications.
Helal said that most of these imports go to unofficial factories and cause great losses to the national economy as a result of inefficiency and the large amount of pollution emitted by these bulbs in the national network. They cause severe health damage to the citizens due to emissions and harmful radiation.
He stressed, in a press statement, today, Tuesday, that it is necessary to activate President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s decisions to prevent the import, manufacture or circulation of products that do not conform to international standards, in order to preserve the health and security of Egyptian citizens first. The aim is to preserve the large investments made by the state, and stimulate more national investments. There is a need for industrial control to play its role in controlling licensed factories and assembly factories and determining the real capacity of these factories and whether they are actually factories or are only so on paper.
Helal also stressed the need to tighten control over the markets to prevent selling and circulating products of informal factories that do not conform to specifications, indicating that the digital system and financial inclusion would facilitate this task, as modern international standards require the name and data of manufacturers or importers of products traded in the market, and barcodes on products are internationally binding.
This measure would curb the informal economy and unlicensed factories, which feed the black economy, which is considered an enemy and a major challenge to the national economy and the Egyptian state.
On the other hand, the head of the Energy Efficiency Engineers and Investors Association confirmed that the LED bulbs supplied through most government agencies do not conform to health or technical specifications and will cause a health disaster for government employees and those exposed to the lights of these bulbs due to lack of awareness and failure to test. It is essential to develop neutral laboratories and encourage the establishment of internationally accredited laboratories.
