Hospital, research benefits after nightwear code breach

Published

Big W will make a contribution of $200,000 to the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick and $200,000 to a major research program into the mandatory safety standard after breaches of the children's nightwear code.

The funding follows a major recall of children's nightwear by Woolworths Limited, trading as Big W, and its supplier Vinetex & Co Pty Ltd.

The companies have given the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission court enforceable undertakings after supplying and selling a range of children's nightwear products that had incorrect fire labelling.

"The ACCC enforces a mandatory standard for the labelling of children's nightwear," ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell said today. "It is designed to reduce the risk of burns injuries to children by providing specific information on the fire hazard of relevant garments.

"Although there has been a significant reduction in hospitalisation rates due to burns from nightwear since the late 1970s, when the standard was introduced, burns from nightwear can and still do occur.

"There is considerable research which shows that clear labelling helps minimise the risk of these injuries, which is why the ACCC regularly monitors compliance."

As a part of this monitoring, the ACCC identified that a number of children's nightwear items sold in Big W stores across Australia were incorrectly labelled as 'low fire danger' when flammability testing showed they should have been labelled 'high fire danger'.

The products were supplied exclusively to Big W by Vinetex. Further, test reports obtained by Vinetex and Big W before the ACCC's investigation should have alerted them to the likelihood of the garments failing the standard before they were made available to consumers.

"Keeping children safe is a crucial component of the ACCC's product safety work," Mr Kell said. "The ACCC takes matters such as this one extremely seriously because of the harm that can arise from incorrectly labelled products."

After being advised of the breach, Woolworths acted promptly and undertook a voluntary recall across dozens of styles across its nightwear range, including 19 styles from the Pink Sugar and Bed Bugs Girls Single Nighties range and eight styles from the Selected Sleepwear Nite Club Boys Nightwear range.

As a part of the outcome negotiated by the ACCC, Woolworths has agreed to:

  • donate $200,000 to the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and
  • fund a $200,000 research project into the mandatory safety standard.

"The ACCC is committed to acting in the interests of consumer protection. The undertaking provided by Woolworths, and the recall action implemented, represents a significant cost to the company.

"I would encourage all suppliers and retailers to look to this action as consistent with the ACCC's commitment to acting in the interests of consumers and to consider their own product safety compliance measures with care.  Failure of a supplier to conform to legal obligations has major consequences."

Vinetex has agreed to establish a trade practices law compliance program that contains improved controls/procedures in relation to its supply of children's nightwear.

"Suppliers and retailers alike should be particularly vigilant when selling products that are subject to mandatory safety standards.  Care needs to be taken in checking the details contained in test reports to ensure products meet all requirements.  Keeping consumers safe should be the top priority."

Contact details

Media inquiries

Ms Lin Enright, Media, (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520

Release # NR 064/10

General inquiries

Infocentre 1300 302 502


 

Responsible regulator

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

https://www.productsafety.gov.au/contact-us/for-consumers/make-an-enquiry

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