Inspections for the product safety of toys and novelty items planned to be sold in show-bags and by stallholders at this year’s Perth Royal Show have led to 34 items failing to comply with product safety standards.
Investigating in association with the Royal Agricultural Society of WA, Consumer Protection Officers found 14 items in 131 show-bags and 20 items planned to be sold by stallholders which they declared were non-compliant.
Acting Executive Director for Consumer Protection, Penny Lipscombe said the unsafe items included toys, jewellery and other novelties and there were also ingredient labelling issues with some cosmetics and toiletries.
“It’s the first time that products sold by stallholders at the show have been inspected along with the contents of show-bags,” Ms Lipscombe said.
“The majority of the identified items failed to comply with new button battery safety laws which require the batteries to be contained in a secure compartment and pass compliance testing,” she said.
She said the batteries must also be sold in child-resistant packaging when supplied separately and display warnings and emergency advice.
“If young children gain access to a button battery and ingest it, they may suffer internal burn injuries which can result in serious illness and even death,” Ms Lipscombe said.
“That’s why it’s crucial for button batteries to be properly and adequately secured,” she said.
“New safety regulations that are now in force should go a long way towards improving the safety of button batteries and help prevent injury to children.”
Perth Royal Show is to run from 24 September to 1 October.
