Protective clothing expert starts online petition tackling uncertified riding kit arriving in the UK
MCN is backing a new online petition urging the Government to do more in the fight against uncertified and potentially dangerous motorcycle riding kit arriving in the UK via some irresponsible online retailers, intent on flouting the law.
The petition, which has been called Implement a strategy to protect motorcyclists from imports of unsafe clothing, was set up by lifelong motorcyclist and product safety consultant Paul Varnsverry, who has been working in the industry since 1984.
Paul is the Technical Director at PVA-PPE, consultancy specialists working in the development of new safety clothing; providing expert knowledge and advice on everything from design, through testing, to certification and quality control.
“Trading Standards have done a superb job over the last three years at the bike shows and in the high street, going in and checking out bike kit, and I know they’ve had a lot of positive feedback from retailers,” Varnsverry told MCN ahead of the petition going live.
“Then we come to the online sector,” he continued. “After I became an admin for a trackday enthusiasts’ Facebook group, in March last year, I started noticing a significant number of vendors selling untested, non-certified clothing, using social media to bypass the usual checks and balances put in place by the market surveillance authorities (those that enforce product safety law), to try and sell direct to the end user.”
According to Varnsverry, these products often come from vendors overseas, who aren’t prepared to put their kit through the required testing and certification to be sold in the UK. Any motorcycle safety garment available to buy here must carry the CE and/or UKCA mark.
- Related: MCN investigate online airbag sales
“Almost invariably, all uncertified racing suits, gloves and boots come from Pakistan, and fraudulently CE marked impact protectors that fail testing when assessed are common,” he explained. “With China, it’s gloves – especially heated gloves – and bogus air vests are almost exclusively from China. I’ve not singled out any one particular country for the petition, just online vendors that are knowingly selling untested, non-certified kit.”
As a result of the petition, it’s hoped Government Ministers will instruct Customs to check all packages from countries known to be the main sources of the nonconforming products.
“If the motorcycle clothing hasn’t been tested, then it should be seized and destroyed,” Varnsverry added. “If the consumer used a credit card or PayPal to make the purchase, they should get their money back, but the petition is also there to alert consumers to the fact that this harsh measure is being called for, and that they should be extremely careful about buying direct from these vendors.
“Even if these companies start showing documentation, consumers would be well advised to check its authenticity, because they often use bogus certificates to try and give their products credibility that they have not earned.”
Assessing whether or not new motorcycle clothing has been legitimately tested can be done in a number of ways, including the labels found within a garment itself. Jackets and trousers, for example should feature the official pictogram of the standard and details of the performance classification achieved.
In simple terms, AAA ratings are awarded for the highest level of impact and abrasion resistance specified in EN 17092, before moving down to AA, and then just A. We’d advise sticking with the greatest number of As you can afford on your budget, with a full guide on all motorcycle product safety standards found here.
“There are plenty of legitimate businesses selling very good products without taking a risk on these rogue traders,” Paul continued. “If the companies involved are prepared to ignore the product safety laws of the destination market, there are probably other things they are prepared to ignore too.”
To get involved and to sign the document, visit the website now. It requires 10,000 signatures to be responded to by government, and 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament.