Remedial action is being taken to ensure a popular brand of jogger stroller is safer for users, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, announced today.
"The Australian Consumers Association recently brought the ACCC's attention to a concern about the Valco Rebel ATS 3 wheel stroller", he said. "The stroller has a reversible seat operated by a lever mechanism.
"Although considerable force is required to operate the seat release mechanism, there is no secondary mechanism to stop the release lever from being operated when a child is in the seat.
"If a user erroneously engaged the mechanism with a child in the seat, the child could be ejected.
"While there have been no associated incidents or injuries reported, the ACCC took the view that remedial action should be taken and Valiant Enterprises Pty Ltd agreed.
"The current Australian Standard for prams and strollers does not appear to address this form of potential hazard. The ACCC is therefore working with Standards Australia to review this standard.
"When the ACCC raised its concerns with Valiant Enterprises, the company promptly responded that the design of the seat release mechanism would be altered in future models to eliminate any possibility of unintended seat release.
"Additionally, Valiant Enterprises will supply to all owners of the current model, free of charge, a retrofit strap to prevent such incidents occurring. Valiant Enterprises will widely advertise the availability of this strap within the next two weeks.
"The ACCC is very pleased with this outcome and commends Valiant Enterprises on their responsible and swift action to address a potential hazard.
"This is a very positive outcome for consumers and an excellent example of a consumer advocacy agency, the supplier and the ACCC working together to achieve consumer protection", Mr Samuel said.