The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has removed five unsafe toys from Queensland retailers’ shelves as part of Operation Safe Christmas.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Yvette D’Ath said the campaign aimed to limit the number of dangerous toys that children were exposed to over the festive season.
“Yo-yo water balls and aquatic toys were seized by OFT safety inspectors as they did not comply with mandatory national safety regulations and posed a significant risk to young children,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Each year the OFT ramps up toy inspections in the run-up to Christmas and this year inspectors visited more than 365 retailers in stores and pop-up shops across the State, examining 7,580 different toys.”
She said two types of yo-yo balls that had been banned nationally due to their strangulation and choking risk were found on Queensland shelves.
“Two inflatable emojis and a goose swim ring were identified as not having correct safety labelling to inform parents about the safe use of the products in water,” Ms D’Ath said.
“In addition, the two inflatable emojis did not have non-return valves with stoppers permanently attached to them, which meant they deflated easily presenting a hazard to children who cannot swim.”
However, she said OFT product safety inspectors said had been pleased with the general level of safety compliance shown by manufacturers and retailers.
“If people are shopping for gifts for children this Christmas, the rule of thumb should always be the smaller the child, the bigger the toy,” the Attorney-General said.
“Check the labelling carefully as toys that are labelled as unsuitable for children under three may contain small parts that could be a choking hazard.”
Any concerns about unsafe toys should be reported to the OFT at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
