Insight Infotech Limited, trading as Azaks, has been fined $10,000 for selling unsafe baby walkers from its Christchurch stores.

This is the first prosecution under the baby walker Product Safety Standard regulations of the Fair Trading Act. It is illegal to sell baby walkers that do not comply with the Standard regulations.

One of the baby walkers sold by Azaks collapsed with the baby in it only a few weeks after purchase. The seller attempted to repair the damage to the walker with a piece of string.

"Unsafe products can injure or kill babies. That is why the standard is there, and why it is so important to comply with it," said Ms Battell, Commerce Commission Director of Fair Trading.

"It is disturbing to think that there are traders out there who would endanger babies by selling products that don't meet the safety standard."

Following a complaint from the purchaser, the Commission purchased a baby walker from Azaks to test against the standard.

"Testing found the walker structurally weak with the seat detaching from its mount. Permanent written warnings, there to advise consumers of safe use, were either absent or not in the required form," said Ms Battell.

"Complying with the baby walker safety standard is mandatory. Although the seller was unaware of the safety standard the judge considered that the owners should have foreseen that baby walkers would be covered by such a standard. The owners had made no efforts to find out."

"Manufacturers, suppliers and retailers must ensure they are aware of any rules for the products they sell. Because of the risks involved in using an unsafe product, the Commission will not hesitate to prosecute where it finds non-compliance."

After the Commission purchased the baby walker for testing, Azaks removed all other baby walkers from sale. The company is no longer selling baby walkers.

Background

It is an offence under the Fair Trading Act to supply or offer to supply, or advertise for supply, a baby walker that does not comply with the Product Safety Standards (Baby Walker) Regulations 2001 and amendments.

The baby walker Regulations requires compliance with American Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers: ASTM F977-03.

The Standard can be purchased from Standards New Zealand (Contact 0800 735 656)

There are six mandatory safety standards enforced by the Commerce Commission:

  • Baby walkers
  • Cots
  • Toys for children under three years of age
  • Children's nightwear
  • Pedal bicycles
  • Cigarette lighters.

Traders can be fined up to $60,000 for an individual and up to $200,000 for a company for each breach of the Fair Trading Act.

An investigation by the Commerce Commission to locate the importer of the baby walkers is still ongoing.