Commission puts retailers on notice: product safety is non-negotiable

It’s taking PD Mart (formerly known as Panda Mart), which operates two variety retail stores offering products at low price points, to court after repeatedly finding a wide range of non-compliant products offered for sale across both its Auckland and Christchurch stores, including products intended for young children.

General Manager, Competition and Fair Trading, Rebecca McAtamney, says consumers shouldn't have to choose between price and safety.

“Regardless of what something costs or what shop you buy it from, businesses must comply with the New Zealand product safety requirements that apply to the goods they sell.”

The Commission alleges PD Mart offered 57 different non-compliant products for sale, including children’s toys and baby walkers, and represented seven types of children’s car seats as complying with an international safety standard when the Commission alleges they did not.

“Product safety standards exist for a reason. When you walk into a shop and buy a product for your family, particularly a product designed for a child, you should be able to trust that the retailer has done the work needed to make sure it complies with New Zealand’s safety requirements,” says Ms McAtamney.

“In this case, selling products that don’t meet those standards puts New Zealand consumers, particularly young children, at risk.”

The Commission says its concerns did not arise from a single visit or isolated incident. From October 2024, Commission staff repeatedly visited PD Mart’s stores and allegedly found non-compliant goods on multiple visits.

During the Commission’s investigation PD Mart recalled and removed potentially unsafe products, including children’s toys, baby rattles, bikes and baby walkers.

In September 2025, the Commission issued PD Mart a Stop Now letter over safety concerns involving children’s car seats.

Further action followed in 2026, when PD Mart gave court-enforceable undertakings to withdraw certain non-compliant products from sale and agreed not to sell products in categories where the Commission had identified concerns, for at least six months.

“It’s the scale and recurring nature of the issues we identified that are a serious concern for the Commission,” Ms McAtamney says.

The Commission alleges PD Mart did not have adequate systems, policies and processes in place to meet its obligations, and that staff were not adequately trained.

The Commission will also allege PD Mart misrepresented the ability for customers to return products under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

“Selling affordable products doesn’t mean retailers can cut corners on safety. They have a responsibility to comply with the law and invest adequately in the systems, processes and staff training needed to meet their legal obligations.”

“Consumers have rights when they buy products in New Zealand, and businesses need to understand those rights and meet their obligations,” Ms McAtamney says.

As the matter is now before the courts, the Commission is unable to comment further on the proceedings.

What consumers should know about product safety

There are a number of product safety standards that are set by regulation under the Fair Trading Act. The standards help prevent and reduce the chance of accidents and injuries while consumers are using these products.

The requirements in each product safety standard are different depending on the type of product.

Consumers can find information about specific product safety standards, including requirements applying to products for children, on the Commission's website hereopen_in_new.