Reject shop fined for unsafe toy sold in Port Macquarie

TRS Trading Group Pty Ltd, trading as The Reject Shop Discount Variety Store, has been ordered by Parramatta Local Court to pay fines and costs of $2,121 for supplying a child’s xylophone toy that could choke a child.

TRS Trading Group Pty Ltd operates around 85 Reject Shops in New South Wales. NSW Fair Trading investigators inspected the Reject Shop at 103 Horton Street, Port Macquarie in May last year and detected a children’s toy, Music Zone Mr Squirrel 8 Scale Xylophone, which raised safety concerns.

The xylophone was tested against the Australian standard. During testing six xylophone key studs, the rubber pieces that attach the metal keys to the plastic frame, came away from the toy. These small parts are a choking hazard.

NSW Fair Trading notified the company of the test results and that it was illegal to sell the toy.

Previously, the compliance manager for the company provided NSW Fair Trading with a test report for the toy that showed it had been tested to the European Standard, for a child aged more than 3 years.

The toy had two recommended age gradings labelled on the packaging. One stated the toy was not suitable for a child under the age of 3 because it contained small parts. The other label stated the toy was suitable for children aged more than 18 months.

NSW Commissioner Stowe said toys sold in Australia must comply with Australian standards and Fair Trading would prosecute with vigour any retailers found to be in breach of product safety standards.

The action by NSW Fair Trading saw the product removed from Reject Shops around the country.

“It is the responsibility of every supplier to ensure goods comply with relevant safety standards and do not pose an injury risk,” the Commissioner said. “I am particularly concerned when standards to protect children are breached.”

TRS Trading Group Pty Ltd, trading as The Reject Shop Discount Variety Store, was issued with a $550 penalty infringement notice by NSW Fair Trading in February 2003 for supplying a non compliant candle holder, subject to a banning order, at the Blacktown store.

The company was also warned: in November 2003 for supplying an unmarked electrical article at the Bathurst store; in August 2007 for supplying a non compliant hot water bottle at the Blacktown store; in October 2009 for supplying a non compliant baby dummy at the Miranda store; and, in February 2010 for supplying a non compliant hot water bottle at the Parramatta store.

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