Melbourne Magistrates' Court has imposed $30,000 in penalties against merchandise retailer Marlo Woods (Australia) Pty Ltd and its sole director, Choung Heng Taing, for contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law (Vic) product safety standards.
In 2006 the company and Mr Taing had offered an enforceable undertaking in relation to children's toys and hot water bottles (now expired) that contravened product safety standards.
Our inspectors seized non-compliant sunglasses, projectile toys and children's toys at four different trading premises operated by the company.
Marlo Woods (Australia) was ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty totalling $24,000 for contravening the Australian Consumer Law (Victoria). Mr Taing was penalised $6000 for being knowingly concerned in the contravention of the company. The company and Mr Taing must also pay shared court costs of $2000.
The court ordered Marlo Woods (Australia) to:
- publish signage explaining a product safety recall notice
- refund any consumers who returned the products and,
- implement a compliance program.
The court also ordered that the seized goods be destroyed.