Over 35,000 non-compliant radio devices have been delisted from online platforms in New Zealand due to their potential interference.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Radio Spectrum Management (RSM), in collaboration with major online marketplaces, delisted the products from July 1, 2023 to June 30 last year.

These products were being sold on e-commerce platforms such as Ebay, Facebook, Amazon, Trade Me, Alibaba and AliExpress.

“These products can operate on licensed channels, causing interference with critical communication systems, such as those used on aircraft and by ambulances,” said Claire Smollet, RSM national manager.

“There was an incident last year when we identified an interference issue with OneNZ’s network that we managed to track back to a baby monitor purchased through an e-commerce marketplace.”

RSM warned that non-compliant devices could result in penalties of up to $30,000 for an individual or $200,000 for a corporate body.

It noted that consumers must ensure the radio devices they buy bear a New Zealand compliance mark.

RSM added that GPS or cellphone jammers are banned and that some products may require certain licenses.