The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has moved swiftly to remove potentially highly flammable children's nightwear which were on sale through a large national supermarket and variety store chain.
The ACCC found the garments on sale in Safeway supermarkets in Melbourne last week and immediately alerted the company.
"This resulted in the quick withdrawal of garments from sale around Australia in Woolworths, Safeway, Crazy Prices Stores, Flemings, Food For Less, Roelf Vos and Purity Supermarkets," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. "The company has also placed public notices in newspapers."
The nighties are "Sleepygirl" brand flannelette with a reference number 51484. They carry a label "Styled To Reduce Fire Danger", but the style of the nightie is not close fitting and they may be highly flammable. Consumers who have the garments must stop using them immediately. They may be returned to the place of purchase for a refund.
The mandatory safety standard for children's nightwear flammability requires compliance with Australian Standard AS1249-1990. A mandatory safety standard is a standard which has been gazetted by the Federal Minister for Consumer Affairs and declares it as a mandatory safety standard and is enforced by the Commission under the Trade Practices Act. All products must conform to the standard.
"The main aim of the children's nightwear standard is to ensure that garments worn by young children at night are properly labelled with the fire hazard rating. This allows parents to choose garments for their children which fit their home situation," Professor Fels said.
"In this case, the garment is wrongly labelled, and may give parents a false impression that the nighties are relatively safe. The ACCC regards this situation as very serious.
"Enforcement of mandatory consumer product safety standards is the responsibility of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and forms part of a comprehensive consumer protection role. The Commission will continue actively enforcing safety standards with retailers, manufacturers and importers and expects suppliers to be fully aware of their responsibilities for ensuring the supply of safe products into the Australian market.
"The enforcement of safety standards is a priority area for the Commission. The Act provides penalties of up to $200,000 for corporations and $40,000 for individuals supplying goods that do not comply with the standard.
"The ACCC will now consider what further action, if any, it will take but will continue to monitor children's nightwear to ensure the Standard is met."
The ACCC found the garments on sale in Safeway supermarkets in Melbourne last week and immediately alerted the company.
"This resulted in the quick withdrawal of garments from sale around Australia in Woolworths, Safeway, Crazy Prices Stores, Flemings, Food For Less, Roelf Vos and Purity Supermarkets," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. "The company has also placed public notices in newspapers."
The nighties are "Sleepygirl" brand flannelette with a reference number 51484. They carry a label "Styled To Reduce Fire Danger", but the style of the nightie is not close fitting and they may be highly flammable. Consumers who have the garments must stop using them immediately. They may be returned to the place of purchase for a refund.
The mandatory safety standard for children's nightwear flammability requires compliance with Australian Standard AS1249-1990. A mandatory safety standard is a standard which has been gazetted by the Federal Minister for Consumer Affairs and declares it as a mandatory safety standard and is enforced by the Commission under the Trade Practices Act. All products must conform to the standard.
"The main aim of the children's nightwear standard is to ensure that garments worn by young children at night are properly labelled with the fire hazard rating. This allows parents to choose garments for their children which fit their home situation," Professor Fels said.
"In this case, the garment is wrongly labelled, and may give parents a false impression that the nighties are relatively safe. The ACCC regards this situation as very serious.
"Enforcement of mandatory consumer product safety standards is the responsibility of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and forms part of a comprehensive consumer protection role. The Commission will continue actively enforcing safety standards with retailers, manufacturers and importers and expects suppliers to be fully aware of their responsibilities for ensuring the supply of safe products into the Australian market.
"The enforcement of safety standards is a priority area for the Commission. The Act provides penalties of up to $200,000 for corporations and $40,000 for individuals supplying goods that do not comply with the standard.
"The ACCC will now consider what further action, if any, it will take but will continue to monitor children's nightwear to ensure the Standard is met."