Published
New South Wales Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts today said a Blacktown retailer has been ordered to pay $2,339 by Parramatta Local Court for displaying and selling toys that pose a serious safety risk to children.
Mr Roberts said Original Dragon Developing Pty Ltd, trading as Extra Save, was found guilty of supplying unsafe children’s toys.
“In October last year, Fair Trading investigators visited Extra Save premises at 4/77-79 Main Street, Blacktown,” he said.
“Investigators identified two children’s toys for sale, the ‘Bao Bei Zhiyue’ rattle and a ‘Music Zone five scale happy crocodile’ toy xylophone, that did not meet regulated safety standards, when tested.
“Rigorous testing revealed the two toys failed to meet the requirements of the Australian toy standard, due to small parts coming loose and could therefore have presented a choking hazard to young children.”
Mr Roberts said suppliers and retailers of children’s toys must understand their obligations and obey the law and should know that Fair Trading regularly inspects the marketplace.
From 1 January 2011, the new Australian Consumer Law introduced a national product safety regime and a number of new penalties and consequences for traders caught supplying and selling unsafe toys. Traders caught breaching the mandatory Australian Standard face fines of up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals.
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 must have ventilation holes, including tents. Helmets and masks must also have ventilation holes
- check that 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.
Contact details
General inquiries
NSW Fair Trading 13 32 20