Taipei: Taiwanese tech retailer Chicony has confirmed that it did not import power bank models from Anker Innovations Co., Ltd. that were voluntarily recalled by the Chinese manufacturer due to fire hazard concerns. Chicony, one of Anker’s two agents in Taiwan, clarified that it did not bring any of the seven recalled power bank models into the Taiwanese market.

According to Focus Taiwan, Anker’s other Taiwan agent, Weblink, has not yet disclosed whether it introduced the recalled devices to Taiwan’s market. Anker issued a recall notice on its Chinese website on Friday, affecting batches from the A1642, A1647, A1652, A1680, A1681, A1689, and A1257 series. The recall is aimed at retrieving 712,964 units globally due to recent fire hazards and accidents associated with the power banks.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had previously requested the recall of 1.158 million power banks from Anker’s A1263 series on June 12, urging consumers to immediately stop using the products due to fire risks. Anker received 19 reports of fires or explosions related to its power banks, resulting in minor injuries and property damage worth US$60,000.

In response to the safety concerns, Anker is offering customers a full refund, a free upgrade to a newer model, or a shopping voucher equivalent to the purchase price plus an additional 50 Chinese yuan. The recall decision followed safety inspections revealing that one of Anker’s suppliers had altered battery cell materials without prior approval, potentially compromising device safety.

Anker’s power bank issues mark the second major defect incident involving a Chinese brand in recent months. Romoss, a charging solution provider based in Shenzhen, China, recalled 491,745 units across three power bank models in April due to similar fire hazards. The Romoss recall was prompted by incidents, including one midair fire during a flight from China to Hong Kong.