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Public advisory

Archived – Health Canada advises the Canadian public to check for potentially dangerous light bulbs

Starting date:
December 21, 2004
Posting date:
December 21, 2004
Type of communication:
Advisory
Subcategory:
Household Items
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Electrical Hazard, Flammability Hazard
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-11000279

Health Canada is advising the Canadian public to examine any compact fluorescent light bulbs they may have in their homes to determine if they may be of the GLOBE Mini-Spiral, 13 Watt variety. These bulbs may pose both fire and electrical shock hazards and consumers are advised to immediately stop using the products.

Compact florescent bulbs are purchased by many consumers as an energy-efficient replacement for traditional home light bulbs. They are for use in socket-style fixtures, such as table lamps. The bulbs have a spiral shape. Some of the GLOBE Mini-Spiral, 13 Watt bulbs contain a non-Underwriters Laboratories (UL) compliant part, but nonetheless carry the UL certification stamp. By containing these non-compliant parts, the UL certification for the entire bulb has been invalidated.

The light bulbs subject to this advisory can be identified as follows.

  • they are marked "GLOBE Mini-Spiral, 13W, 120V, 60Hz, 225mA" (with the "GLOBE" logo in upper case letters)
  • they bear UL file number "E197131"
On the base of the bulb, to the right of the "GLOBE" logo, the products are marked with one of the following (date) codes.
 
(Date) Codes
  • 0202
  • 0402
  • BH0103
  • BH0203
  • BH0403
  • BH043
  • BH052
  • BH0603
  • BH0702
  • BH072
  • BH073
  • BH803
  • BH903
  • BH1003
  • BH103
  • BH1103
  • BH113
  • BH1203
  • BH123
  • BH1302
  • BH1303
  • BH1402
  • BH1403
  • BH1503
  • BH1603
  • BH1703
  • BH183
  • BH193
  • BH2002
  • BH203
  • BH342
  • BH3502
  • BH4102
  • BH4802
  • BH4902
  • BH492
  • BH5002
  • BH5102
  • BH512
  • BH5202

Photo of lightbulbs

The date code is found on the base of the bulb to the right of the "GLOBE" logo, as shown here. Only the 13 watt mini-spiral bulbs, with the aforementioned date codes, are defective.

13 watt mini-spiral bulbs bearing the lower-case "globe" logo are NOT subject to this advisory.

It should be noted that similar 13 Watt Mini-Spiral Bulbs carrying the "globe" logo, in lower case letters, are NOT subject to this advisory as they make use of different components than the affected GLOBE bulbs.

The affected GLOBE light bulbs were manufactured in China by Fujian Joinluck Enterprise Co. Ltd. During the period January 2002 through April 2003, they were distributed across Canada by the Globe Electrics company and sold at retail outlets.

The light bulbs, that are the subject of this advisory, were manufactured with parts that Underwriters Laboratories neither tested nor approved, making the certification stamp invalid. Underwriters Laboratories is an independently operated and not-for-profit organization that undertakes product safety certification. Incidents have been reported in Canada wherein some of the non-approved parts failed and this resulted in holes being melted in the bulb's enclosure.

Should consumers choose to do so, they may contact the manufacturer of the GLOBE bulb to arrange to be compensated for the defective product. The company can be reached at: customerservice@globe-electric.com or by phone at 514-694-0444, ext. 151

Alternatively, the defective bulbs may be returned to:

JOINLUCK Recall10/04
1453 Cornwall Road
Oakville, Ontario L6J 7T5

(Fujian Joinluck Enterprise Co. Ltd. has indicated that, at no charge, they will exchange each defective bulb for 2 (two) new and similar non affected replacement bulbs.)

Those consumers wishing to dispose of the defective light bulbs can do so in their regular household garbage.

Health Canada has been in contact with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, which fully supports this notification. On matters relating to public safety, Health Canada will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders.

For further information, contact the Health Canada Product Safety Office nearest you:
City, Province Telephone Number E-mail Address
Vancouver, British Columbia 604-666-5003 Bby_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Edmonton, Alberta 780-495-2626 Edm_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Calgary, Alberta 403-292-4677 Cal_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 306-975-4502 Sk_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Winnipeg, Manitoba 204-983-5490 Mb_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Hamilton, Ontario 905-572-2845 Tor_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Toronto, Ontario 416-973-4705 Tor_Prodsafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Montreal, Quebec 514-283-5488 Quebec_Prod@hc-sc.gc.ca
Longueuil, Quebec 450-646-1353 Quebec_Prod@hc-sc.gc.ca
Quebec, Quebec 418-648-4327 Quebec_Prod@hc-sc.gc.ca
Moncton, New Brunswick 506-851-6638 Atlantic_ProdSafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
Halifax, Nova Scotia 902-426-8300 Atlantic_ProdSafe@hc-sc.gc.ca
St. John's, Newfoundland 709-772-4050
or
709-772-5455
Atlantic_ProdSafe@hc-sc.gc.ca

 

Media enquiries

Margot Geduld/Carole Saindon
Health Canada
613-957-1588

Public enquiries

613-957-2991

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