Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge today put retailers across the State on notice that inspectors are out checking shops and markets in the lead up to Christmas.

Ms Judge said Fair Trading product safety experts were inspecting hundreds of thousands of children’s products and toys to make sure dangerous items were removed from shelves.

“Fair Trading is particularly concerned about toys that put young children at risk with small parts that can be swallowed or inhaled,” Ms Judge said.

“The law is very clear when it comes to the supply and sale of unsafe toys: if it doesn’t meet the standard, it should not be on traders’ shelves.”

Ms Judge said traders found breaching the law face fines of up to $110,000 for corporations and $22,000 for individuals.

“Fair Trading inspectors will also take the opportunity to educate suppliers on their product safety responsibilities, so it’s a two-fold mission,” she said.

The pre-Christmas blitz is conducted as part of Fair Trading’s ongoing annual product safety program targeting retailers and markets.

Ms Judge said last year’s pre-Christmas inspection program involved 661 retail outlets in 163 towns and inspections of more than half a million toys.

More than 100 toys were removed from sale last year due to safety concerns. Ms Judge today said an Ingleburn toy supplier has been ordered to pay $4,116 by Liverpool Local Court for distributing children’s toys that pose a serious choking hazard.

Ming Sheng Fang, the former director of Interfusion Pty Ltd and Cubeweave Pty Ltd, was found guilty of supplying unsafe children’s toys in 2008 and 2009.

“Fair Trading investigations found two dangerous toys supplied by Mr Fang on sale at retailers in Bass Hill and Dulwich Hill,” she said.

“Rigorous testing of the ‘Zhiyue Bao Bei Baby Toys’ and ‘Dinosaur the Pets’ revealed these products failed to comply with product safety laws due to small parts.”

This is not the first time the ‘Dinosaur the Pets’ toy has caught Fair Trading’s attention, having been reported as a dangerous toy in 2007.

Ms Judge said this conviction serves as a reminder to traders and suppliers that Fair Trading regularly inspects the marketplace.

“You never know who they are going to visit next,” she said.

Tips on buying toys for children:

• Buy washable, non-breakable toys for babies
• Read the labeling on new toys and avoid those with small choking hazards
• Check toys regularly for loose parts
• Anything big enough to crawl inside must have ventilation holes, including tents
• Check there are no gaps or holes that could trap a child’s fingers
• Be wary of toys that make loud noises as they can be harmful to hearing
• Check for sharp edges or rough surfaces as they can cause cuts and splinters
• Ensure that ride-on toys are appropriate to the age of the child and are stable and
• Check magnetic toys for loose magnets. If magnets are swallowed they may block or perforate the digestive system resulting in serious injury.

Publications on buying safe toys and products can be viewed or downloaded from this website or copies can be obtained by calling Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

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