KILLER TOYS REMOVED FROM SALE

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech is warning Queenslanders about lethal toys that have recently been recalled by suppliers because of serious safety concerns.

The three toys are:

·Tree Toys wooden numbers and letters tray puzzle supplied exclusively to Kmart. The toy contains small puzzle parts which are a choking hazard.

·Playskool Team Talkin’ Tool Bench supplied nationally by Hasbro. The toy has been linked to two deaths in the United States where children choked on the oversized plastic toy nails.

·Leapfrog Learn-Around Playground Activity Centre supplied nationally by Funtastic. A child’s arm can easily be caught in the activity centre’s plastic tube.

“Parents who have bought these toys should return the toys immediately to the place of purchase for a refund,” Mrs Keech said.

“It is a major concern that unsafe toys continue to slip through and make it onto shop shelves.

“Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, traders are required to ensure the products they sell meet mandatory safety standards.

“Safety standards are in place for a reason. Thousands of Australians are injured by unsafe products every year.

“Seventy per cent of all unintentional injuries receiving medical attention in Australia are believed to be associated with unsafe products. This amounts to over three million medically treated injuries annually, 21% of which are directly related to a design or product faults.*”

Mrs Keech said retailers were responsible for ensuring goods ordered from overseas meet Australian mandatory safety standards.

“Retailers should check with their suppliers that goods they order comply with mandatory standards. They should also run their own check on goods when they arrive,” she said.

“Fair Trading inspectors regularly conduct spot checks to assess compliance with safety standards.

“We are keen to work with industry to improve safety standards and reduce injuries by making sure dangerous products never make it to the shelf.

"The Beattie Government takes the issue of toy safety very seriously. Individuals found supplying banned toys that do not comply with safety standards face fines of up to $40,500, while corporations face fines of up to $202,500.”

For more information, or to report an unsafe toy, call the Office of Fair Trading’s Product Safety Unit on (07) 3305 9614.

For more information on the toy safety standards contact the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04 or visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.

Note: A copy of the three recall notices are available from the Office of Fair Trading, as are photos of the recalled toys. Call 3119 0068.

*Directions in Injury Prevention (April 1999), National Injury Prevention Advisory Council, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

Media contacts: David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534 or Karen Lehr (OFT) 3119 0068