Kings Langley bargain store fined for unsafe toys

Calmex Pty Ltd trading as KM Best Bargain at Kings Langley has been ordered to pay $1,842 in fines and costs by Parramatta Local Court for supplying two children’s toys that contained small parts capable of choking a child.

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said Fair Trading investigators visited the KM Best Bargain store at the Kings Langley Shopping Centre in October last year during routine checks and found the children’s toys, the Happy Music Starfish and Lucky Dog, which raised safety concerns.

The toys were purchased from the store and tested against the Australian Product Safety Standard that applies to toys for children aged up to and including three years.

During a drop and tension test both toys proved to lack the durability necessary to withstand normal use by a child aged three years and under. The Happy Music Starfish contained small parts dangerous to a small child and its batteries could be easily accessed. The Lucky Dog toy contained small parts dangerous to a small child.

Mr Stowe said this was the first conviction for Calmex Pty Ltd however Fair Trading has previously fined the company for failing to comply with mandatory product safety standards.

In February 2008 Calmex Pty Ltd was issued with a penalty notice of $550 for the supply of two types of non compliant children’s toys, the Hotdog Clown Train and the Funny Euphonic Beastie. The Hotdog Clown Train toy contained small parts dangerous to a small child. The Funny Euphonic Beastie contained small parts dangerous to a small child and its batteries could be easily accessed.

The NSW Fair Trading Commissioner said the Australian Consumer Law prohibits the supply of goods that do not comply with minimum safety standards.

“NSW Fair Trading upholds the safety standards by regularly inspecting the marketplace to ensure traders are meeting their obligations and supplying safe and well constructed goods,”

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