Bed retail chains Sleep City Holdings Limited and Fantastic Furniture Pty Ltd have recalled bunk beds that failed to meet the required safety standard.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has accepted separate court enforceable undertakings from Sleep City and Fantastic Furniture after the companies supplied bunk beds that did not comply with the mandatory product safety standard.
"Retailers are responsible for ensuring that the bunk beds they sell fully comply with the mandatory standard," ACCC Deputy Chair, Mr Peter Kell, said today. "Products in breach of the standard may cause serious injuries to small children."
"The ACCC will continue to be vigilant in its product safety surveying to ensure compliance with the mandatory safety standards," Mr Kell said.
The ACCC found that Sleep City sold 'Jessie' and 'London' bunk beds which had openings in the upper bunk guard rails that posed a potential fall-out hazard for a child, and did not display required warning labelling. The company also sold 'Trio' bunk beds which were found to have gaps in the frame that may have presented a serious head or limb entrapment hazard for children.
Sleep City has undertaken to contact all customers who have bought these models to either modify the bunk beds free of charge or refund customers in full.
Fantastic Furniture sold the 'Mikki high sleeper' bunk bed that was found to have wider openings in the guard rail than were permitted, gaps in the guard rail and the mattress base that may entrap limbs, and warning labelling not displayed as required.
Fantastic Furniture will provide a full refund to all customers who bought this product.
Both Sleep City and Fantastic Furniture acknowledged engaging in conduct that contravened section 65C of the Trade Practices Act by selling the non-compliant bunk beds, and provided undertakings to:
- ensure that goods supplied comply with the required safety or information standards
- publish information notices on their respective websites
- display an information notice in all of their respective Australian stores
- establish and maintain a trade practices law compliance program.
For media inquiries to the ACCC Deputy Chair, Mr Peter Kell, please call Mr Brent Rebecca, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1317. For general inquiries, please call the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.
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