News

Tragically, between one and two children die in Australian homes every year as a result of non-compliant corded blinds and curtains. Similar deaths occur regularly across the world and the ACCC is joining international regulators to warn of the hidden dangers associated with corded blinds and curtains.

The Federal Court has ordered Online Dealz Pty Ltd (Online Dealz) to pay a penalty of $100,000 for supplying a household cot, portable cot and stroller that did not comply with safety standards, and for making misleading representations in advertisements for the household cot and portable cot, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.

Christmas will come early for importers and wholesalers of children’s toys, with NSW Fair Trading embarking on an early compliance blitz on dangerous products in coming weeks.

About 50 West Australian children are taken to hospital with cot-related injuries each year, prompting a new campaign to educate parents about the safety of second-hand cots.

Each year, increasing numbers of children eat or inhale the contents of brightly coloured packets of laundry detergent, mistaking them for lollies or teething toys.

Victorians have contacted Consumer Affairs Victoria more than 175,000 times in six months.

Consumer Protection has expressed concern about the safety of hoverboards and the fire risks associated with some models.

The ACCC's pre-Christmas safety check of nearly 3,300 toys in stores and online, has found seven potentially dangerous toys that fail mandatory safety requirements.

New South Wales Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe and CHOICE are warning consumers of the potential dangers of mermaid tails, a water play product that binds a child’s legs and acts as a flipper so the child can swim like a mermaid.

Flashing decorations, jewellery, musical stockings and greeting cards are among the items that made it on to the naughty list during Consumer Protection’s annual pre-Christmas product safety inspections.