A major discount retailer has recalled a vehicle trolley jack after action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The Reject Shop imported the jack, described as Hydraulischer Rangierheber, from China and sold it between August and March 1998. 'The ACCC found the jack did not comply with the mandatory standard for trolley jacks as it did not have all the required markings including adequate instructions for its operation,' ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
'It also failed to comply with certain performance requirements of the Standard which showed that the jack's nominated capacity of 2000kg was incorrect. Tests indicated that the jack's nominated capacity should have been in the vicinity of 1750kg. 'After the ACCC raised its concern with The Reject Shop, the company withdrew the jack from sale and agreed to publish a recall notice.'
The Reject shop has offered consumers who purchased the jack a full refund.
Following a number of instances of failure to comply with mandatory product safety standards, the Reject Shop is now developing a corporate compliance program to reduce the possibility and incidents of breaches.
The Commission previously raised concerns with the Reject Shop in respect of failing to comply with the ingredient labelling requirements of the cosmetics standard and failing to comply with the standard for exercise bicycles.
'The ACCC affords a high priority to its product safety and information standards responsibilities. As part of its compliance and enforcement work, it undertakes regular surveys of products for which there are mandatory standards. In this instance, the action taken followed an approach by a trader against whom the ACCC had previously taken similar action.
The ACCC is pleased to see that not only are its product surveys identifying non-complying goods, but also have the end result of educating traders of their responsibilities and raising industry awareness.'