More than 350 showbags have passed rigorous safety inspections and are ready for the Royal Melbourne Show.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz visited the showgrounds today to give 30 disadvantaged kids a free showbag ahead of the opening of the annual event on 23 September.
Consumer Affairs Victoria have examined more than 3400 items in this year’s showbags – from sunglasses to cosmetics and novelty hats – to ensure they meet safety and consumer information standards.
As part of this year’s examinations inspectors found 20 items that needed to be fixed or removed including:
- a flying umbrella with a sharp tip that could have caused serious injury
- a train set without a secure battery compartment
- a pair of sunglasses that didn’t provide information about their UV protection
- Cosmetic products including lip stick, foundation and mascara that lacked basic product information.
Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors raised their concerns with showbag suppliers, who agreed to make the items compliant or remove them from their showbags.
It is illegal to supply any product in Victoria that does not meet mandatory safety and information standards.
Consumers Affairs Victoria will be attending other metropolitan and regional shows across Victoria as part of its state-wide inspection program, to ensure non-compliant and dangerous products are not sold to Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz
“People shouldn’t have to worry about their safety when they’re picking a showbag.”
“Inspectors have been hard at work inspecting thousands of items, and to ensure there’s nothing dangerous in there for kids – or adults – stocking up on showbags this year.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020