Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and Melbourne Royal Show organisers are warning parents and carers to be on the lookout for unsafe children's toys, after CAV safety inspectors found more than 500 non-compliant products at the Show yesterday.
The products were seized from a sole trader operating a pop-up stall and include:
- Light up butterfly headbands with accessible button batteries
- Light up fairy wings with accessible button batteries
- Light up wands with accessible button batteries
- Light up alien toys without the required product safety labelling
- Yo-yo water balls which are banned and pose a strangulation risk.
Button batteries pose a serious health risk to children and other vulnerable people. If ingested, they can burn through the oesophagus (swallowing tube) in just two hours, causing internal burns, severe bleeding or death.
Yo-yo water balls are children’s toys made up of a soft synthetic ball filled with liquid or air, with a long elastic cord attached to hold the toy from. They have been banned in Australia since 2011 because of the serious risk that the long cord can wrap around a child’s neck and cause strangulation.
CAV safety inspectors have been on site throughout the show to check compliance with the mandatory safety and information standards under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
This year, our inspectors examined 380 showbags and the vast majority passed the test, with 13 items failing to meet standards. The items were either removed or modified, where appropriate, to meet mandatory product safety laws.
Director of CAV Nicole Rich urged consumers to exercise caution and said CAV would remain vigilant in protecting the community.
'Our inspectors seized the unsafe products as soon as they found them. I urge all parents and carers who attended the show to check the items they bought to ensure any button batteries are out of reach for children.’
‘We have removed the immediate danger by seizing these dangerous products and we are considering further appropriate action in relation to this matter.'
Melbourne Royal CEO Brad Jenkins said as soon as CAV alerted them to the breach, they acted immediately and removed the exhibitor in question from the Showgrounds.
‘The health and wellbeing of our Show patrons is our number one priority. We appreciate having a close working relationship with CAV to ensure the highest of safety standards and laws are adhered to by exhibitors and Showbag vendors when it comes to selling products.’
If you’re unsure about the safety of a product you have bought or seen for sale, call us on 1300 55 81 81.
If you suspect someone has ingested a button battery, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for urgent advice. If they're struggling to breathe, call 000 immediately.
Maximum penalties under the ACL for supplying banned or non-compliant goods are $2.5 million for individuals and $50 million for companies.