Assistant Treasurer issues safety warning about dangerous Monster High Ghouls nightie

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The Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, has issued a Safety Warning Notice warning consumers about the serious risk of injury or death involved in the use of the children’s nightwear item ‘Monster High Ghouls nightie’.

The Monster High Ghouls nightie is highly flammable and burns too quickly because it is made with fabric too heavy to be considered safe under applicable safety standards.

The nighties were recently sold on eBay between June and July this year, despite having been recalled on three separate occasions over the last five years.

Consumers who purchased the Monster High Ghouls nightie are warned that these nighties pose an immediate and serious risk to children, particularly now it is winter when children are more likely to be exposed to heating and open flames.

“The Monster High Ghoul nightie has the potential to cause serious injury or even death to children using them, and the ACCC urges everyone who has one to stop using it immediately and seek a refund from the supplier, or simply discard it,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Children can suffer serious burns if their nightwear catches fire, and the risk increases in winter as children are more likely to be near artificial heating or open flames.”

“ACCC testing shows that the Monster High Ghouls nightie caught fire very rapidly in laboratory testing. They are highly flammable and dangerous and the risk to children wearing them, particularly in some types of heated houses, is too great,” Ms Rickard said.

The Monster High Ghoul nightie was first recalled in 2015 by its supplier Designworks and retailer Kmart, as it failed to comply with the applicable safety standard. The nighties were then recalled again in 2017 and 2019 by Victorian retailer Brand Clearance Clothing, after Designworks resupplied the item.

“It’s completely unacceptable that this item is still being sold five years after its safety failings were first identified. It is a dangerous non-compliant product and any supplier or retailer in the supply chain is breaking the law by selling it,” Ms Rickard said.

The ACCC is investigating how the nighties became available for sale on eBay, and will treat any breaches of Australia’s product safety laws very seriously.

Advice to consumers

If you have purchased one or more of these Monster High Ghoul nighties, you should immediately stop using the garment and contact Designworks customer service at (03) 8823 8200 or custservice@designwcc.com.au for a full refund.

The Nighties were previously recalled in October 2015 by Designworks Pty Ltd and Kmart Australia Limited; in February 2017 by Brand Clearance Clothing Pty Ltd, a Victorian discount clothing store; and again in June 2019 by Brand Clearance Clothing Pty Ltd.

If you are buying children’s nightwear, it is important to check that it has a fire warning label attached.

Do not choose nightwear labelled ‘high fire danger’, especially if your child may be near a heat or ignition source.

Choose well-fitting nightwear because the more loose-fitting the flammable clothing is, the higher the risk of burns if it catches fire.

Remember that even if you choose garments with a low fire danger label, they can still be flammable when children are near to a heat or ignition source.

Product image

A video of the nightie being tested for flammability is below.

Consumers can find out if other children’s nightwear has been recalled on www.productsafety.gov.au

Reference number

153/20

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