Parents are being urged to check Halloween-themed toys and other products purchased online, after an audit found 80 per cent failed to meet safety and information standards.
Only three of 49 button-battery-powered items tested met mandatory safety and information standards.
Just three of 49 Halloween products tested were found to be compliant. (ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
The products tested came from six popular online shopping platforms and were checked by Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Consumer Protection team in Western Australia.
Issues uncovered included unsecured battery compartments providing young children with easy access to button batteries.
Products tested ranged from costume accessories and pumpkin tote bags to skeleton candlesticks and headbands.
No button-battery warnings
Almost all were missing mandatory warning labels, which alert consumers to button batteries that can cause life-threatening injuries if swallowed.
WA Commerce Minister Tony Buti said the department had acted swiftly.
“This is really concerning because the problem with button batteries, if they are loose and they are getting into the hands of young children, they can present major health issues,” Dr Buti said.
Tony Buti says non-compliant toys may need to be recalled. (ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
“If need be, there will be a voluntary recall of those products.”
He said the six online platforms assessed had confirmed non-compliant products had been removed.
Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake would not reveal which online platforms had failed to meet the standards, saying investigations were ongoing.
Risk of death from batteries
With Halloween becoming increasingly popular in Australia, Dr Buti urged parents to be vigilant this year and report any issues to Consumer Protection.
“Please ensure the button batteries come in a compartment that is protected from the children, that they are not loose and if there is any issue in that, please report that to the Consumer Protection unit of the department,” he said.
Button batteries were found to be easily accessible in many of the items tested. (ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
Ms Blake said three children had died in Australia after ingesting a button battery.
“But many, many, many more children are now suffering lifelong requirements for surgery and medical issues because what happens is, when they swallow those button batteries in their oesophagus, it burns the tissue,” she said.
“It’s just incredibly dangerous and horrifying.”
Shop local for safer toys
Ms Blake said Consumer Protection was educating sellers and platforms in the hope of a “massive improvement” next year.
“Our inspectors are also out there inspecting bricks-and-mortar stores as well,” she said.
“Obviously, online we know a lot of products come in from overseas, where the standards might not be as strict.
“Also, individual sellers pop up on these online platforms and they’re not necessarily as aware of the rules.”
Trish Blake has urged people to shop local when buying Halloween items. (ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)
Ms Blake said the compliance rate for physical stores was around 90 per cent, and urged people to shop locally.
“If you are thinking about splashing out on Halloween, visit our local bricks-and-mortar stores, the local traders — they’re working really hard,” she said.
“Know that you have a much higher chance of compliant products being available and safe products being sold to you.”
Drop test
Ms Blake said parents should check their purchases and drop the items from waist height to check they did not break apart “too easily”.
“Don’t be fooled by battery compartments having small screws in them, because what we found in a lot of these products, is they have the screws but the screws don’t actually attach to anything, or they’re not long enough,” she said.
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