Why was a Bowose rechargeable drill stopped at the UK border?

What the electrical strength test exposed

The Office for Product Safety and Standards published the report on 17 August 2026. The alert carries notification number 2608-0059. Local Authority Trading Standards notified the regulator.

The product is a rechargeable drill with a wall plug and lithium‑ion batteries. Its brand is Bowose. The SKU reads FG0004392571E. The charger carries model HGFS126100. The seller SKU is D-WZ-DRILL-BWS-HC. The box code is SPEC_FG0004392571E_10_10_1. The product identifier is PI20265B000000484E. Country of origin is China.

The adapter failed the electrical strength test. That test applies high voltage between live parts and accessible surfaces to verify insulation integrity. Failure means the insulation could break down over time. When it does, accessible metal parts can become live. The report states this presents a serious risk of electric shock. The drill also lacks adequate information and warnings. Instructions are also insufficient.

Which regulations the drill violates

Non‑compliance with either regulation bars the product from legal sale. The product does not meet the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. It also fails the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994. Both sets of rules apply to equipment placed on the market in Great Britain. The first covers machinery safety broadly. The second governs plugs and sockets used in domestic environments. Adapters fall under the same regime.

What happens at the border

The import has been rejected at the border. That measure stops the consignment before it enters the supply chain. No recall is needed because the units never reached consumers. The report does not say how many units were in the shipment. It does not say whether any identical drills have already been sold through other channels.

If you already own one

The hazard remains. The adapter insulation can degrade. Metal parts that the user touches may become energised. The document does not report any injuries. It does not state whether the seller has been contacted or whether a voluntary recall will follow. The corrective action recorded is limited to border rejection.

A product image and a PDF report are linked on the GOV.UK page. The page was published on 17 August 2026. Updates will appear there if new information emerges. The risk level is listed as serious. The alert type is a product safety report. The category is machinery.