Re-offending Eastwood trader guilty of selling unsafe toys

Topstar International Pty Ltd trading as Dollar Store 123 Eastwood has been ordered to pay $2,021 in fines and costs by Parramatta Local Court for supplying a children’s toy that contained small parts capable of choking a child.

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said Fair Trading investigators visited the Dollar Store 123 Eastwood in October last year during routine checks and found the Scoop Truck children’s toy, which raised safety concerns.

The toy was 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.

The Scoop Truck children’s toy failed the drop and tension test used to determine if the products could withstand normal use by a child aged under 3 years. The toy contained small parts dangerous to a child as they could be easily inhaled or ingested if put near a child’s mouth.

Mr Stowe said that Topstar International Pty Ltd has displayed a concerning pattern of non compliance for a number of years and this was the second conviction for the company in just over 12 months.

In April 2011 Topstar International Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $1,916 by Parramatta Local Court for supplying unsafe children’s squeeze toys.

In March 2010 Topstar International Pty Ltd was issued with a penalty notice of $550 by Fair Trading for supplying other retailers with non compliant children’s squeeze toys and non compliant luggage straps.

Mr Stowe 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,” he said.