Consumer Protection has reminded retailers to comply with mandatory button battery safety laws or face penalties which could be imposed.
The Consumer Protection statement follows a number of inspections by the Agency which found non-compliant products for sale in the Albany area earlier in the year.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Trish Blake said Product Safety and Automotive Officers undertook separate inspections in Albany to see whether retailers and motor vehicle repairers and dealers were doing the right thing by consumers.
“During the product safety inspections, officers identified 15 items powered by button batteries that were wrongly labelled and failed to display the correct warnings to consumers,” Ms Blake said.
“Under new rules that became mandatory last year, warnings must be clearly displayed on all products that contain button batteries, including advice to seek medical assistance if the batteries are swallowed.”
She said any toys or other products that were powered by button batteries must have a secure battery cover, usually a screw that was not easily removed.
“Button batteries can cause serious injury if they are swallowed or inserted into an ear or nose by a child. In the worst cases, they can even kill a child,” Ms Blake said.
“The results of the inspections were disappointing given the danger button batteries posed to young children, and retailers risk fines for failing to comply with the laws.”
She said there was no excuse for retailers to be carrying non-compliant stock, given the button battery information and mandatory standards had been in effect since June last year.
During separate automotive inspections, officers visited 18 motor vehicle dealerships and 20 repairers in the Albany area to check the businesses were licensed and complying with the laws that govern their industries.
Most dealerships were fully compliant, although a few were not properly displaying their licence numbers and certificates at their premises or on advertising material.
Information on dealing with motor vehicle dealers and repairers can be accessed at the Consumer Protection website at this PS News link.
