NSW: 'Unsafe' toys removed from shelves

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2008
NSW: 'Unsafe' toys removed from shelves

SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - More than 160 toys and Christmas products have been removed from
shop and supermarket shelves after being declared unsafe by the NSW Office of Fair Trading.

At least half of the toys - many battery operated or squeeze toys - presented a potentially
fatal inhalation or ingestion hazard for children due to small parts.

Another 14 products were projectile toys that had the potential to cause significant
eye injury or had projectiles of a size that may present an inhalation or ingestion hazard,
a statement said.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said checks were conducted annually in the
lead up to Christmas to ensure toys did not pose a safety risk to children and consumers.

Fair Trading inspectors examined thousands of products on the shelves of 476 retail
outlets - mostly discount variety stores and markets - in more than 100 towns across NSW.

Ms Judge said she was most concerned about the 121 toys specifically marketed to parents
as being suitable for children under three years of age.

"One toy we've taken off the shelves - a 12-piece `Baby Plaything' toy set - shows
a picture of a young baby on the packaging," she said.

"While it also carries a warning that it is not suitable for use by children under
three, loving parents and grandparents could have been easily misled into buying it.

"It's a disgrace," she added.

She said Fair Trading's Investigation and Enforcement Division would continue to hunt
for dangerous products over the coming weeks to ensure unsafe products remained off the
shelves and "away from young children".

Manufacturers, suppliers and retailers who are found to be supplying or selling unsafe
products face stiff penalties, with maximum fines of $22,000 for individuals and $110,000
for corporations.

AAP cjb/jm

KEYWORD: XMAS TOYS (WITH FACTBOX)

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