Tukes tested water taps from Temu: serious water damage risks and poorer water quality

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) tested plumbing fixtures that had been ordered from Temu and discovered that the products come with a serious risk of water damage and issues with the safety of domestic tap water. The tests showed that two kitchen and washbasin taps, which looked like metal, were plastic and made of extremely poor quality materials. During the tests, even low pressure was enough to break the taps, which in practical use could cause significant water damage. Since the taps were also made of crumbling material, this could mean that impurities and contaminants are transferred to domestic water.

Tukes commissioned tests for the suitability of kitchen, sink, and shower taps for domestic water use sold in Finland. The tests were conducted for a total of 12 taps, two of which were ordered from Temu for comparison and research purposes. The taps ordered from Temu were significantly different to the generally sold tap types in terms of materials and structure.

In Finland, the material on the inside of a water tap, which comes in contact with domestic water, is usually brass or stainless steel. The products from Temu were entirely made of plastic. At the time when Tukes selected the products for testing, this was not known. 

Taps not durable in normal use

The tests showed that the plastic taps were made of extremely poor quality materials. The tested taps did not pass the pressure test. Both taps broke when using such low pressure that in practice, any normal pressure fluctuations in the pipe system could break the tap and cause water damage. The handle of one of the tested taps came off already at the start of the standard mechanical testing. The handle would not have been durable enough for normal use.

When cross-cutting, the interior material of the tested taps did not cut neatly like proper, durable plastic should, but were very fragile and crumbled into small, black, powdery particles. In Tukes’ assessment, this crumbling material could transfer directly into domestic water.

The main materials of the interior parts of the taps were polyethylene and polypropylene, which often have additives. The use of some common additives in plastic is restricted in EU legislation due to their health hazards. For this reason, users should be cautious of ordering products from outside the EU when these products are intended to be in contact with drinking water. It is possible for other contaminants from production to have been transferred to these products and through them, into drinking water.

The manufacturer is responsible for proving through tests that the products are suited for contact with drinking water and that no substances harmful to health are transferred into water in normal use. Currently, only national legislation regulates materials that come in contact with domestic water; however, EU legislation that further restricts the materials of products in contact with domestic water will enter into force at the end of the year.

Ensure product quality before ordering

Based on the results of the tests, Tukes highly recommends checking that products from online stores outside the EU are suitable for domestic water use before making a purchase decision. In addition, consumers should be aware of the possible high risk of water damage.

‘If you want to purchase construction products from an online store abroad, check that the product meets the technical requirements for their intended purpose in Finland,’ reminds Sirpa Väisänen, Senior Officer at Tukes.

National market surveillance authorities have difficulties implementing legislation outside EU borders. For this reason, non-EU operators or so-called third country operators cannot always be made responsible for placing non-compliant products on the market through market surveillance measures. 

Consumer protection based on EU legislation also applies to purchases made from online stores outside the EU if the marketing of the product is specifically targeted at EU consumers. However, it could be challenging for consumers to defend their rights in cases when the seller is established outside the EU. Tukes recommends that consumers pay attention to product safety, in particular when ordering products from outside the EU, as the buyer often has to deal with any potential product issues. 

E-commerce (digital commerce) is one of the priorities of the Finnish Market Surveillance Strategy 2026–2029 and the Tukes market surveillance plan 2026. This project is part of Tukes’ efforts to monitor e-commerce sites that are established outside the EU and to promote a level playing field in the digital environment.

In terms of the other products tested, the surveillance project is still ongoing, and Tukes will inform of the results once the tests have been completed.

More information:

Construction products: Senior Officer Sirpa Väisänen, tel. +358 29 5052 233 
Domestic water products: Senior Officer, Mikko Tapiola, tel. +358 29 5052 085
email addresses are in format [email protected]

Pictures of the tested water taps:

Finnish Market Surveillance Strategy 2026–2029
Tukes market surveillance plan 2026–2029 (in Finnish)