Victoria Minister for Consumer Affairs Michael O’Brien

Minister Helps In Pre-Christmas Crunch As Dangerous Toys Destroyed

Victor P Taffa

Family and friends buying toys for children this Christmas should always put safety first, Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O’Brien said today.

Helping to destroy thousands of unsafe toys seized from Victorian retailers, wholesalers and importers at North Melbourne today, Mr O’Brien said Consumer Affairs Victoria staff were being extra-vigilant at the start of the festive season.

“The toys being destroyed today pose a variety of risks, including small parts that could choke a child and projectiles that could cause serious eye injuries.” Mr. O’Brien said.

“Today’s pre-Christmas destruction will ensure more than 45,000 unsafe toys that have been seized from traders across the state cannot endanger Victorian children.”

“This includes 10,000 toys that were seized this time last year in simultaneous raids by Consumer Affairs Victoria on ‘Going out of Business’ stores in Thomastown, Hoppers Crossing, Frankston and Oakleigh – products such as toy guns, yo yo balls and toys for children under three that did not meet mandatory safety standards.”

“The Victorian Coalition Government is proud to support the great work of Consumer Affairs Victoria staff who are working hard to keep Victorian families safe.”

In the lead up to this Christmas, product safety inspectors have conducted 370 inspections of traders across the state resulting in the confiscation of more than 10,000 unsafe toys.

Many of the toys that have been seized this Christmas are the same types of products that has been seized in the past, such as:

• Yo Yo balls – rubber balls on an elastic cord, often in bright colours and with flashing lights – which can strangle children when the cord is too long;

• Toys that can break into small parts and potentially choke a child;

• Projectile toys, including miniature guns which can injure children’s eyes or cause a choking hazard if kids place small projectiles with suction cup tips in their mouths.

These seizures were part of the national pre-Christmas toy survey by fair trading agencies across the country in an annual effort to check as many toys as possible in the lead up to Christmas.

“Despite the great progress that this co-operative national crackdown has made, there is still a small minority of traders who have still not got the message that we have zero tolerance towards those who sell unsafe products.” Mr. O’Brien said.

Robert Caulfield, President of Kidsafe Victoria said the removal of these dangerous toys by Consumer Affairs Victoria was vital to protecting children from serious injury and potential life threatening incidents such as choking.

“Adults purchasing toys should exercise extreme care and ensure that the toy is suitable for the child’s age, is of good quality and complies with safety standards, particularly in the lead up to Christmas.” Mr. Caulfield said.

The toy industry also supported the Coalition Government’s warning and crackdown, with General Manager of the Australian Toy Association (ATA) Paul Hodgson fully supporting efforts to take dangerous toys off Victorian shelves.

“Buying toys is not child’s play, and families should be alert for unsafe and dangerous products and, if in doubt, contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.” Mr. Hodgson said.

Consumer Affairs Victoria enforces strict safety standards and ban orders to ensure products available for sale are safe and fit for purpose, keeping families safe and ensuring they get value on their purchases. In 2010-2011, Consumer Affairs Victoria seized 44,700 unsafe products from traders across the state.

Under the Australian Consumer Law, a supplier who fails to comply with a mandatory safety standard can face fines of up to $220,000 for individuals and $1.1 Million for a body corporate. Anyone with concerns about product safety issues may contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 or visit consumer.vic.gov.au