Online trader recalls baby cots due to safety concerns

DVIN Corporation Australia Pty Ltd has issued a national voluntary recall of three models of baby cots* following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raising concerns about safety.

The ACCC was concerned the cots may not comply with the prescribed consumer product safety standard for cots for household use.

The ACCC has the responsibility for ensuring compliance with mandatory consumer product standards under the Trade Practices Act 1974. The Act prohibits the supply of goods that do not comply with a prescribed consumer product safety standard.

The cots were imported by DVIN Corporation and sold through online auction websites. Models YD308 and YD6288 were sold through Grays Online in the period 20 October 2007 to 6 January 2008. The model YD628 cots were sold through eBay in the period 24 November 2006 to 4 December 2006. All models of cots were of pine timber construction with cupboards in the base section.

The ACCC was concerned that the cots posed safety issues in respect of:

• the height of the cot sides/ends causing a potential fall out hazard
• entrapment hazards identified within the structure of the cot
• protrusions causing potential snag hazards, and
• the absence of the required informative and warning labels.

Upon the ACCC raising its concerns, DVIN Corporation conducted a prompt national consumer recall of the cots. The ACCC acknowledges DVIN Corporation's cooperation in resolving this matter.

"All traders which supply goods covered by a prescribed consumer product safety standard are required to ensure that the goods comply with that standard," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said.

"This includes online traders selling through auction sites such as eBay and Grays Online."

The ACCC is currently working together with eBay Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd to ensure that eBay sellers intending to supply products subject to mandatory consumer product and information standards and mandatory bans under the Trade Practices Act 1974 are notified of their statutory obligations prior to listing these products for sale.

As well as the enforcement of mandatory product safety and information standards and mandatory bans, the ACCC also has a role informing consumers about the safe use of products around the home.

"For a guide to buying safe infant products, new and prospective parents and carers can obtain a copy of the ACCC's new Keeping Baby Safe DVD."

Background

*Photos of the cots and more details about the recall (PRA number 2008/9881 17 March 2008) are available at www.recalls.gov.au.

Cots sold in Australia are required to comply with certain requirements specified by Consumer Protection Notice 6 of 2005 which references Australian/New Zealand Standard 2172:2003 Cots for Household Use. These requirements relate to the construction, design, safety, performance and marking/labelling of cots.

Suppliers of goods which fail to comply with the relevant mandatory product safety standard could face penalties of up to $1.1 million for companies and $220,000 for individuals.