Early Learning Centre Australia Pty Ltd has issued a voluntary national recall of the Wooden Rolling Drum toy after an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation.
ELC has agreed to display notices in-store and on its website to warn parents of the potential dangers of the toy and has offered full refunds or store credit to consumers.
The toy is a wooden drum with beads inside that has been marketed to children aged 12 months to three years*. Between September 2006 and February 2007 ELC sold 285 Wooden Rolling Drum toys. The toy was sourced from an overseas manufacturer for exclusive sale at ELC and Kids Central stores.
The recall was undertaken after the ACCC raised concerns with ELC that the beads inside the drum could be dislodged and posed a potential choking hazard.
The ACCC believed the Wooden Rolling Drum toy failed to comply with the mandatory consumer product safety standard for toys for children 36 months and under**.
The ACCC had the toy tested and it was found to have failed to comply with the standard potentially due to a production batch fault. Whilst ELC disputed the ACCC's test results, it ultimately decided, without admissions, to issue a voluntary national recall of all Wooden Rolling Drum toys as a precautionary measure.
"The ACCC welcomes ELC's decision to undertake this voluntary national recall," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said. "In such cases it is better to be safe than sorry.
"Suppliers and retailers selling toys for use by children under three years must ensure products do not contain choking hazards," Mr Samuel said. "Recent enforcement actions highlight the need for vigilance across the industry."
The ACCC is conducting a number of activities to improve compliance with the mandatory consumer product safety standard for toys, including supplier education and publicity targeted at all levels of the supply chain.
The ACCC is working with the Australian Toy Association to enhance compliance.
The ACCC's website, provides links to important information on safety standards and product liability.