Massive crackdown on popular baby products used by millions of Aussie parents is launched over safety concerns
- Large-scale crackdown on popular baby products
- Will strive to prevent injuries and deaths in infants
- Tracks recalls for 21 products so far in 2023
The Australian consumer watchdog will soon crack down on products that endanger the safety of children.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that baby sleep products and other goods impacting child safety will be among their top priorities in 2023-24.
The renewed focus on protecting young Australians was announced by the organisation’s Deputy Chair, Catriona Lowe.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said baby sleep products and other goods impacting child safety will be among their top priorities in 2023-24
“Tackling issues for young children, who are among the most vulnerable consumers, is our top product safety priority,” said Ms Lowe.
“This broad body of work includes ongoing compliance, enforcement and education initiatives with a focus on toys for children under the age of three, button battery products and tipping furniture.”
The organization will spend this year implementing strategies to prevent injuries and deaths associated with infant sleep products, including infant sleep products, cribs and cots, bouncers, and sleep aids.
“An education campaign to be launched in the coming week about products with an incline angle for babies – including slanted sleepers and bassinets – will help consumers and industry become more aware of the safety risks associated with these products,” she said.
The ACCC hopes that these campaigns will support informed purchasing decisions and that consumers can take action to protect the interests and safety of their children.
Sleeping on an incline increases babies’ risk of sudden death by rolling into a position that blocks their airways
The organization first outlined its renewed efforts to keep babies safe in 2022, with former ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard saying the risks of tilted sleeping products were a particular concern.
Tragically, since 2001, about two child deaths per year in Australia have been linked to inclined sleep products, such as rocking chairs and bouncers marketed for sleeping, while the death of about one child per year has been linked to other sleep products. for babies, such as cots, inflatable beds and mattresses,’ said Ms Rickard.
“Sleeping babies are often placed on inclined sleeping products, such as bouncers and cribs, by parents and caregivers who are completely unaware of the significant choking risks.”
There are 21 product recalls issued by ACCC in 2023 related to babies and children, including cots, clothes, rattles and other toys
Investigations will be conducted into sleep products of ‘most concern’ and enforcement action will be taken if necessary, Ms Lowe said.
The ACCC will continue to develop a mandatory standard for infant sleep products and the organization will also look at new trends in these products to ensure their safety standards are up to date.
It will also consider whether products marketed for sleep with an inclination greater than 7 degrees should be permanently banned.
“The ACCC will focus on reviewing data and intelligence, and working with other regulators, to inform our understanding of product safety risks and emerging trends in the infant sleep environment,” the organization’s priority manifesto reads.
There have been 21 product recalls by ACCC in 2023 related to babies and children, including cots, clothing, rattles and other toys.