Taiwan distributor seeks removal of Anker power banks from shelves

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) Weblink International Inc., a distributor of a power bank model recalled last week by Chinese manufacturer Anker Innovations Co., said Monday that it has contacted all of its retailers to remove the product from sale.

Weblink distributes Anker's A1257 model, one of the seven models recalled by the Chinese company last Friday over overheating concerns or risks of fire hazard, the Taiwanese company said in a statement.

According to Weblink, the company has contacted all of its sales channels, and most of the Anker power banks have been taken off shelves as part of the recall.

However, these sales channels do not include unlicensed or unauthorized retailers selling Anker power banks as gray market goods, Weblink said.

Anker's operations in Taiwan have submitted the model to the Bureau of Standards, Methodology and Inspection for further checks and examinations, and will be responsible for future announcements and comments.

Weblink's statement on Monday came after the confirmation made on Saturday by another distributor of Anker products in Taiwan, Taiwan-based Chicony Electronics Co., which stated that it has not imported any of the seven recalled power bank models.

In Taiwan, Anker's e-commerce website for the local market is operated by Taiwanese electronics retailer Liang Shing EcLife Corp., which handles logistics and customer service, including complaints.

Anker announced the recall of 712,964 power banks from all of global markets after the products were linked to fire hazards and accidents. These power banks were from the A1642, A1647, A1652, A1680, A1681, A1689 and A1257 series.

In a notice released on June 12, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission requested the recall of 1.158 million power banks from Anker's A1263 series.

According to the notice, Anker had received 19 reports from consumers of the company's power banks causing fires or explosions.

Of the incidents, two resulted in minor injuries that didn't need any medical attention while 11 were cases of property damage totaling US$60,000.