Over 130,000 electronic devices did not meet European standards for radio equipment last year due to the rise of cheap online products, reported Het Belang van Limburg on Wednesday.
The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) reported as many as 131,253 devices, including drones, baby monitors, smartphones, and connected toys, as having been found below essential standards.
By law, radio equipment sold must meet a series of requirements. BIPT is responsible for monitoring the compliance of radio equipment available on the Belgian market.
The rise of online shopping and cheap sales from international platforms like AliExpress has caused a surge in non-compliant devices in Belgium.
In 2018, BIPT identified 42,575 non-compliant devices, a number that jumped to 131,253 last year.
These devices include drones, baby monitors, robot vacuums, smartwatches, smartphones, wireless earbuds, and even electronic cigarettes.
