Published Friday, 14 December, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Queensland Introduces Mandatory Safety Standard for Babies' Dummies
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said parents can have more confidence that their child’s dummy will be safe, with mandatory safety standards regulating the quality of dummies sold in Queensland coming into force today.
“The Queensland standard complements a national safety standard introduced by the Commonwealth government last year,” Mr Shine said.
“The Commonwealth standard applies to corporations while the Queensland standard extends cover to sole traders and individuals.
“The standard sets out the minimum requirements for the design and construction of dummies, as well as the information provided for parents on dummy safety and hygiene.
“The standard also stipulates that dummies should not be sold with a cord or any other type of attachment because of the risk of strangulation posed by tying dummies to babies’ clothing or body.”
Mr Shine said the standard aims to prevent the risk of babies and young children choking on defective dummies.
“While dummies have only caused one recorded injury to a child in Queensland in 2007 this regulation will help reduce the chance of more children being injured,” he said.
“Most dummy suppliers in Australia are reputable, well established international corporations but, in recent years, there has been an increase in the supply of inferior standard dummies.
“Inferior or substandard dummies often cost substantially less and are usually sold through discount retail stores.
“My advice to parents choosing products for young children is to always think safety first.
“The risk of buying unsafe products is lower if you buy quality brands from pharmacies and reputable baby product shops.”
Mr Shine said the national standard was enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Queensland standard will be enforced by the Office of Fair Trading.
A summary of the mandatory safety standard can be found on the ACCC website at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/803969/fromItemId/3737.
For more consumer information about product safety visit the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or phone 13 13 04.”
Media enquiries: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273
“The Queensland standard complements a national safety standard introduced by the Commonwealth government last year,” Mr Shine said.
“The Commonwealth standard applies to corporations while the Queensland standard extends cover to sole traders and individuals.
“The standard sets out the minimum requirements for the design and construction of dummies, as well as the information provided for parents on dummy safety and hygiene.
“The standard also stipulates that dummies should not be sold with a cord or any other type of attachment because of the risk of strangulation posed by tying dummies to babies’ clothing or body.”
Mr Shine said the standard aims to prevent the risk of babies and young children choking on defective dummies.
“While dummies have only caused one recorded injury to a child in Queensland in 2007 this regulation will help reduce the chance of more children being injured,” he said.
“Most dummy suppliers in Australia are reputable, well established international corporations but, in recent years, there has been an increase in the supply of inferior standard dummies.
“Inferior or substandard dummies often cost substantially less and are usually sold through discount retail stores.
“My advice to parents choosing products for young children is to always think safety first.
“The risk of buying unsafe products is lower if you buy quality brands from pharmacies and reputable baby product shops.”
Mr Shine said the national standard was enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Queensland standard will be enforced by the Office of Fair Trading.
A summary of the mandatory safety standard can be found on the ACCC website at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/803969/fromItemId/3737.
For more consumer information about product safety visit the Office of Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or phone 13 13 04.”
Media enquiries: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273