A USB hub sold on TikTok has been urgently recalled in the UK over fears it could electrocute users due to serious design flaws violating national safety regulations.
At a Glance
- The Jia Le Xin USB hub sold via TikTok has been recalled due to electric shock hazards.
- The plug’s bottom two pins are placed less than 9.5mm from the edge, a breach of UK standards.
- The product violates both the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994.
- TikTok removed the product following pressure from UK safety authorities.
- Consumers are advised to stop using the device immediately and seek redress.
A Lethal Design Flaw Discovered
The Jia Le Xin USB Hub features three sockets and six USB ports and was available for purchase on TikTok’s marketplace. But according to the UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the plug supplied with the device presents a “serious risk of electric shock.” Specifically, the bottom two plug pins are situated less than 9.5mm from the periphery, a clear violation of established safety standards.
This flawed design means users risk touching live metal pins while removing the device, potentially completing an electrical circuit with their body. As The Sun reports, the pins remain dangerously exposed even when the hub appears to be fully inserted into a wall socket.
Regulatory Violations and Recall Action
The hub contravenes both the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, as cited in the OPSS recall notice. Despite these clear safety breaches, the product was sold directly to UK consumers, raising questions about enforcement failures on major online platforms.
TikTok has since removed the listing, but no data has been disclosed on how many units were sold or if any injuries have occurred. Consumers who purchased the hub are urged to stop using it immediately and contact the distributor for a refund or replacement.
Broader Pattern of Unsafe Imports
This is not an isolated incident. A separate device, the TP-5+1 Hot Air Styler, was also recalled recently due to similar risks involving an unfused plug, as covered in The Sun’s tech warning. Consumer safety watchdogs like Which? have documented dozens of unsafe electrical products slipping through regulatory cracks and reaching British households via platforms like Amazon, Shein, Temu, and TikTok.
While sellers may be penalized after the fact, there appears to be little proactive screening to prevent such hazards from entering the market in the first place.
The Case for Stronger Oversight
These repeated failures point to the urgent need for improved regulation of online marketplaces. Platforms profiting from product listings must be held accountable for ensuring those products meet safety standards. As it stands, consumers are effectively left to play electrical roulette with unverified, low-cost gadgets.
If you own this USB hub, discontinue use immediately and report the product to the UK Product Safety Alert system.
Because when it comes to electricity, saving a few pounds isn’t worth risking your life.
