20 Sep 2016

Samoa bans sale of faulty Samsung 7

11:24 am on 20 September 2016

Samoa has followed the lead of a number of countries to ban the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Koh Dong-jin holding a Galaxy Note 7 when it was first launched two weeks ago.

Koh Dong-jin holding a Galaxy Note 7 when it was first launched. Photo: AFP

The decision by the government was confirmed by the Office of the Regulator and stems from concerns about the risk of the phone battery catching fire.

A statement said the Office of the Regulator has decided to halt all type approvals of Samsung Galaxy note 7 devices for sale in Samoa.

Any retailer proposing to sell the devices in Samoa would not be issued approval to sell them, it said.

Samoa's Telecommunications Act 2006 gives the regulator the power to type approve any telecommunications equipment that could be directly or indirectly connected to a telecommunication service.

Last Thursday US authorities issued a recall of Samsung's Galaxy note 7 phones.