The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today launched Keeping baby safe, an educational DVD for new and prospective parents and carers, at Kidsafe House, Sydney.
The DVD provides important information about infant and children's products, to help parents and carers make and keep their home environment safer and to prevent serious injuries to children.
"The DVD guides those buying products for infants and children to select the safest and to use them appropriately," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said.
Under the product safety provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974, the ACCC protects Australian consumers from unsafe products. One way is through the enforcement of mandatory product safety standards for items including cots, dummies, baby bath aids and toys for children under three. New mandatory standards for prams and strollers will come into effect on 1 July 2008 and in early 2009 for portable cots.
Helping consumers to protect themselves and their children from harm is another important ACCC role. While some products are not unsafe in themselves, there may be serious risks if they are used incorrectly. The ACCC informs consumers about the dangers using targeted national education campaigns.
"Consumer safety has always been a high priority for the ACCC and that is particularly the case when it comes to the safety of infants and children," Mr Samuel said.
"The fact a product meets a mandatory standard is a good start, but is not a guarantee of your child's safety. The Keeping baby safe DVD includes information on the safe use of the products around the home."
The DVD features a contacts page with details of some websites that new parents will find useful.
Keeping baby safe DVD will be available free from the ACCC. It can be ordered by calling the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or online at the ACCC website.