Minimum safety standards for prams and strollers have been announced today by NSW Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney following serious accidents involving infants.

Ms Burney said the new pram and stroller standard – effective as of 1 July – complements the Commonwealth mandatory standard.

“In recent years, concerns have been raised about the safety of prams following reports of children injured and a number of deaths in prams and strollers,” Ms Burney said. 

“The new standard will reduce the risk of serious injury and death as a result of accidents. 

“In two tragic incidents, infants drowned when their three-wheeled strollers rolled away from parents, down a slope and into a river. Accidents also happen on railway platforms where carers aren’t aware of the downward slope of the platform and lose control of the prams.

The new standard will ensure that all prams and strollers for sale meet minimum Australian safety standards for brakes, safety restraints, tether straps, testing procedures and labelling.

“But parents don’t need to rush out to buy a new pram because most prams comply with the voluntary standard already in place. The new standard will apply only to prams sold after 1 July this year.  

“My advice for all parents is keep an eye on your stroller at all times. And when you stop, make sure the brakes are on.”

About 740,000 prams and strollers are sold in Australia each year. None are produced in Australia and the majority are imported from Asia. 

“Ninety per cent of the products meet a voluntary standard such as the Australian or European standards.  However, the rest may not meet any standard and may pose a risk to infants. Before you buy a stroller, check the label to ensure it meets the standard. 

“There is nothing I and the Office of Fair Trading take more seriously than the safety of infants and small children.” 

The Fair Trading Act allows for mandatory safety standards to be made that control performance, design or methods of manufacture of specific kinds of goods supplied for sale. The purpose of these requirements is to reduce the risk of injury.

For further information on product safety, view this website or call 13 32 20. 

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