HP starts to strangle grey imports

HP is 'region coding' new printers making many imported cartridges incompatible with the devices.

The cartridges have a chip that is coded for a specific region, which is then read by software in the printers. A mismatch means the printer won't work.

For example, a British user who buys a printer in the USA can't use British cartridges or vice versa.

HP has divided the world into four regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Americas and the Far East. But it says the move is not designed to make more money from its customers, but a means of avoiding currency fluctuations.

"[Price] volatility can be confusing for customers, as they don't know what to expect each time they go to the store. By introducing a regional approach we can give consumers greater certainty," HP said. However country coding is a trick borrowed from the entertainment industry, which applies this to DVDs to stop grey imports - the practice where people pick up their consumables at a cheaper price in other countries.

Users will still be able to use compatible refilled cartridges according to HP, as long as the refilled cartridge is from the same region as the printer. But the recycling industry warned there will be a delay in getting these to market.

"It could be a year or so before we get any to market. We need to get enough of these empty cartridges to make it viable to refill and we haven't seen any yet. We also have to find ways to refill them and make sure inks are compatible. This takes time," said Keith Moss, chairman of the UK Cartridge Remanufacturers' Association.

However he did say the move could have one benefit for the recycling industry and consumers in the UK. It would increase the amount of cartridges available for refill in this country:currently many cartridges that can be refilled end up in the US where there is a shortage.

People who move between countries can call HP's customer service department, to arrange for the printer to be reset to the new region.