Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will again be inspecting showbags ahead of the Royal Darwin Show to ensure products included in the bags meet mandatory safety requirements.
“Showbags are an important part of the show experience. Kids love them and they can be lots of fun, but that fun can disappear very quickly if toys and other products contained in the showbags are not safe,” ACCC Northern Territory Regional Director Derek Farrell said.
"It’s important that the ACCC and other consumer protection agencies inspect showbags each year. In general most showbags are safe. However surveillance over the past few years has resulted in detection of a number of non-compliant products which have had to be removed from showbags," Mr Farrell said.
“For example just recently the ACCC’s found non-compliant children’s sunglasses and a toy with the potential to choke a young child in showbags at the Alice Springs Show. We have worked with the supplier to rectify the issue ahead of the Darwin Show this week.”
"A showbag inspection doesn’t certify that the bags are safe, but it does involve a good check against the mandatory standards and product bans enforced by the ACCC. This includes checking for small parts, the correct safety warning labels and more.”
“If an unsafe toy is identified, the ACCC will be working with suppliers to ensure that the toy is removed from all showbags before the show opens on Thursday,” Mr Farrell said.
“The ACCC has full responsibility for product safety in the Northern Territory and we take this responsibility very seriously. That’s why the ACCC will be at the show grounds before the show opens, talking with showbag suppliers to make sure they understand and comply with mandatory safety requirements.”
The ACCC will be inspecting showbags on Tuesday before the show opens on Thursday and will also be conducting spot checks at the show.
Media seeking to view the inspection should arrive at 10am Tuesday and contact:
Operations Manager:
Darwin Show office,
Foskey Pavilion,
Shean Rd,
Winnellie, NT 0821
More information on product safety and the mandatory safety standards can be found at www.productsafety.gov.au. Australian product recalls are published at www.recalls.gov.au, and you can also follow product safety at the ACCC on Twitter: @ProductSafetyAU.