New product safety videos released

22 November 2018

The Commerce Commission has today released product safety videos, including a hard-hitting story which urges businesses “don’t toy with the life of a child”.

“These videos and our prosecutions show how serious product safety is, and toy safety in particular,” said Commissioner Anna Rawlings.

“Time after time our product safety investigations have shown us that many businesses simply don’t know their legal obligations. So, as well as taking enforcement action, we want to educate businesses about the need to be aware of and comply with the mandatory product safety standard for toys for children aged 36 months and under,” she said.

The story of a toy
One of the new videos shows the serious consequences of selling an unsafe toy.

It shows the story of a toy, from container ship, to importer’s warehouse, to toy shop, to a child’s hands. When the child throws the toy down it breaks, liberating a small part which the child then swallows and chokes on.

“Our video is unapologetically intended to shock businesses into finding out about their legal obligations and acting on them. The message is clear – don’t toy with the life of a child,” said Ms Rawlings.

The video is supported by two further videos: ‘Any doubts? Don’t sell’, an information video giving guidance on the mandatory product safety standards, particularly that for toys for children 36 months and under. This video has been translated into Chinese and Korean.

the final video demonstrates three of the tests that toys undergo to demonstrate they pass the mandatory standard The videos and more detailed guidance for businesses can be found on the Commission’s website. The Commission has also produced advice for consumers.

Background
The mandatory standard for toys covers toys intended for use by children up to 36 months of age. It aims to reduce the risk of injury or death to young children by ensuring that toys intended for their use are not so small, or do not have parts so small, that they could be swallowed or ingested causing choking.

Testing of such products includes tension, torque (twist), and drop testing, and it is designed to simulate normal use and reasonably foreseeable abuse of toys by young children.

The choking hazard from small toy parts is the subject of episode 9 of the Commission’s animated series It’s All Good.

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