Thousands of dangerous and unsafe products have been removed from Victorian shelves, with inspectors swooping on businesses in the lead up to Christmas.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz today revealed a haul of dodgy products seized during statewide inspections of retailers and wholesalers.
Through November and December, Consumer Affairs Victoria conducted more than 400 inspections, leading to the seizure of more than 3,200 unsafe products.
The crackdown comes just a week after the Federal Court of Australia issued a $1 million penalty to retailer Daiso Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd for supplying, offering to supply or possessing goods that did not comply with mandatory product safety and information standards.
The investigation saw more than 6,500 items seized, including dangerous projectile toys and those designed for children under three that posed potential choking hazards.
In the lead up to Christmas, inspectors have been on the lookout for:
- toys with small parts that present a choking hazard to young children
- projectile toys, which may cause serious eye injuries or which present an ingestion or inhalation hazard
- toys with sharp edges or points that may cause laceration or stab wounds
- children’s play cosmetics without appropriate labelling that may present allergic reactions and other health risks
- unsafe and poorly constructed cots, and
- flammable clothing.
In 2016-17, Consumer Affairs Victoria product safety experts conducted more than 1,100 inspections, leading to the removal of more than 70,000 unsafe items from sale.
A supplier who fails to comply with a mandatory safety standard can face fines of up to $220,000 for an individual and $1.1 million for a body corporate.
Anyone with concerns about product safety issues can contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 36 48 94 or visit consumer.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz
“We take product safety very seriously and have inspectors out in force to ensure businesses sell product that is safe and complies with our strict standards.”
“In the lead up to Christmas, it’s vital that mums and dads can buy toys for their kids and be confident that it won’t be a present they later regret.”