NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe today said a Cabramatta retailer had been ordered to pay $3,910 by Parramatta Local Court for selling children’s toys that posed a serious safety risk.
Mr Stowe said House Mate Trading Pty Ltd, trading as Good World Gift Shop, was convicted of supplying unsafe children’s toys that did not comply with Australian product safety standards.
NSW Fair Trading investigators visited the store at Shop 5, 105-107 John Street Cabramatta and found on sale the children’s toy, Sunny Baby Toy.
Rigorous testing revealed the Sunny Baby Toy failed to meet the requirements of the Australian toy standard due to it having an easily accessible batteries compartment that could potentially cause a choking hazard for young children if they gained access to the batteries.
Mr Stowe said the trader had repeatedly come to Fair Trading’s attention for breaching product safety laws.
Since 2000 the trader has been formally cautioned and fined as well as prosecuted five times (including the current prosecution) for supplying products that did not meet Australian toy standards and electrical product safety standards.
Mr Stowe said the trader’s blatant disregard of the law was unacceptable.
“Product safety laws protect the public from products that pose a serious risk of injury and NSW Fair Trading works tirelessly to ensure unsafe products are removed from store shelves,” he said. “NSW Fair Trading regularly inspects the marketplace and will not hesitate to take action against any trader found supplying dangerous or substandard goods to the public.”
Tips on buying toys for children:
- Buy washable, non-breakable toys for babies.
- Read the labelling on new toys. Not suitable for children aged under three means there are small parts that could be swallowed – it is not an indication of skill level or intelligence.
- Check toys regularly for loose parts that may be choking dangers. Always read the label and any safety warnings.
- Toy chests and boxes should have a removable lid. Anything big enough to crawl inside, including tents, must have ventilation holes. Helmets and masks must also have ventilation holes.
- Check there are no gaps or holes that could trap a child’s fingers.
- Be wary of toys that make loud noises – they can be harmful to hearing.
- Check for sharp edges or rough surfaces – they can cause cuts and splinters.
- Ensure ride-on toys are appropriate for the age of the child and are stable.
- Check magnetic toys for loose magnets. If magnets are swallowed they may cause blockage of the digestive system and serious injury.
More information about product and service safety is on the NSW Fair Trading website.
Contact details
For more information call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or visit the NSW Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
For more Australian product safety information visit www.productsafety.gov.au