WA: On-the-spot fine for selling unsafe baby products

A Seville Grove woman who was selling used baby products online has been given on-the-spot fines of $2,640 after several baby car seats and walkers offered for sale failed to meet safety regulations.

The woman was selling about 50 second-hand products via Gumtree including car restraints, baby walkers and cots. Due to the high number of products offered for sale and the ongoing nature this was regarded as a home business and the woman was regarded as a trader and required to comply with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

Product safety officers from Consumer Protection inspected the woman’s home last month and found five illegal baby restraints and two illegal baby walkers which had been offered for sale and issued two infringement notices.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll warns consumers who buy baby products online to ensure they meet current Australian mandatory safety standards.

“Baby car seats, walkers and cots sold in Australia have strict safety standards so consumers should ensure that the products they are buying online are compliant with those standards in every way,” Ms Driscoll said.

“The risk when buying second-hand products on sites like Gumtree, or even new products from overseas-based websites, is that the products being offered may not meet basic safety standards here in Australia and, in fact, could be regarded as dangerous.

“As an example, one of the walkers found in this case did not have the appropriate braking mechanism in place to prevent injury.

“Traders have an obligation under the ACL to make sure their products being offered for sale or being imported are safe, and there are serious consequences for companies and individuals if those products do not meet Australian standards.”

Product safety information is available online at www.productsafety.gov.au. For enquiries, call Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au.

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