Shocking! 15 Luminaire models failed spot checks—how painful is the price of cutthroat low-price competition?

The Guangdong Province spot-check results are out! Fifteen lighting products were reported as non-compliant—nine offline and six online, involving multiple well-known e-commerce platforms!  

Both small and medium-sized lighting manufacturers were affected, as well as reputable companies; excessive harmonic current has become a frequent issue. Are the lights we buy really safe?  

On October 29, the Guangdong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation issued the “Notice on the Follow-up Supervision and Spot-Check Results of 34 Product Categories Including Household Appliances in 2025,” dated October 27. Lao Hong would like to point out: this is the follow-up supervision and spot-check for 2025, not a new round of sampling conducted this year.

Under the category “Lighting Sources and Luminaires,” this inspection identified 15 non-compliant products—nine offline and six online—covering Tmall, Douyin, JD.com, and Kuaishou. 

 The issues fall into two main areas. The first is the safety baseline: inadequate protection against electric shock, insufficient insulation resistance and dielectric strength after moisture treatment, and problems with external and internal wiring—all directly threaten personal safety. The second is hidden compliance: nuisance voltage, radiated emissions, energy efficiency class, and most surprisingly, harmonic current—according to the list, a staggering 11 out of 15 products failed this test. Bulbs, panel lights, recessed fixtures, and even a 200W stage wash light were affected. Excessive harmonic current not only causes overheating and accelerates aging of circuits but also violates grid connection requirements. 

Lao Hong believes this inspection reveals a pressing reality: many lighting companies still limit their understanding of quality to visible metrics like brightness and color rendering. However, the data shows that compliance priorities are shifting toward safety baselines and electromagnetic compatibility—basic safeguards such as protection against electric shock and proper internal/external wiring remain high-risk areas, indicating some manufacturers have compromised excessively within low-cost supply chains. Meanwhile, previously overlooked EMC indicators like harmonic current and radiated emissions are emerging as new hotspots for non-compliance.  

Lao Hong also notes that among these 15 products, there are not only small and medium-sized manufacturers but also prominent brands. This sends a strong signal: LED drivers / power supplies can no longer be treated as generic purchased components; they must be managed as core compliant parts, with batch-by-batch qualification verification. The notice explicitly states that defect investigations will be launched and legally mandated recalls implemented for defective products—the responsibility boundary for lighting companies has expanded from factory inspection to ongoing post-IPO monitoring. In Lao Hong’s view, this is the price of cutthroat low-price competition: never compromise on insulation or power supplies just to save a few cents. If the safety baseline cannot be maintained, even the biggest brands will face failure. Only by making compliance a foundational pillar can enterprises achieve long-term success.  

Finally, Lao Hong reminds consumers: among these 15 products—six online and nine offline—don’t assume that major platforms guarantee safety. When buying lights, consider three key factors: first, check labeling—manufacturer name and address, applicable standards, and rated parameters are all essential; missing “markings” themselves constitute non-compliance; second, verify CCC certification—finished luminaires fall under mandatory certification; avoid products lacking required documentation; third, inspect workmanship—power cords and plugs are the easiest places to hide shoddy construction. Keep your order invoices handy, and report any issues to market regulators. A light hanging above your head isn’t worth sacrificing peace of mind for a few yuan saved.

About the Author, Hong Bing:

Hong Bing currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of China Light Net & Agricultural Lighting Net, the official websites of the China Illuminating Engineering Society; Executive Dean of Ming Classroom; Executive Vice President of the Beijing Illuminating Engineering Society; Deputy Director of both the Talent Training Committee and the Agricultural Lighting Professional Committee of the China Illuminating Engineering Society; Executive Deputy Director of the Lighting Alumni Association of Fudan University; and Board Member of the Ecological Environment Alumni Association of CEIBS. He graduated from the Department of Light Sources and Lighting Engineering at Fudan University in 1991 and earned an MBA from CEIBS in 2003. He has held R&D, product planning, and marketing positions at institutions including the China Building Materials Academy, Panasonic, GE, and OSRAM. In 2008, he received the Siemens Global Top Plus Award and the Siemens China Outstanding Performance Award, and founded China Light Net in 2009.

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