Published
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released the “Safe Santa Checklist” – a product safety checklist to help keep the community safe from product-related injuries, illness or death this Christmas.
“The Safe Santa Checklist helps shoppers buy safe gifts for their loved ones, particularly young children, and steer clear of potentially dangerous products,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
“The ACCC is encouraging consumers to use the checklist while making your Christmas shopping list to avoid buying gifts that have been recalled or are otherwise unsafe.
“The checklist will help you pick safe presents so, for example, a child doesn’t end up receiving a toy under the Christmas tree with parts that could cause them to choke.
“Following the checklist will also help keep you up to date on the latest information on Australian recalls and product safety issues.”
Meanwhile, the ACCC along with state and territory regulators has been doing its own list-checking by conducting product safety surveillance of children’s toys in the lead up to Christmas.
“A key focus of our pre-Christmas toy surveillance is helping to make sure unsafe products don’t get into little hands and cause injury, illness or death to kids,” Ms Rickard said
The full survey results will be available mid- December. In the meantime, Santa stars in a short online video demonstrating how to use the ACCC checklist.
The video and checklist are available at www.productsafety.gov.au/safesanta. The video is also on the ACCC Product Safety YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ACCCProductSafety.
For more information visit www.productsafety.gov.au, follow us on Twitter @ACCCProdSafety and join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ACCCProductSafety.
Safe Santa checklist
While you’re Christmas shopping, check:
- Any warning labels or safety information. The item might not be safe for theperson you’re buying for.
- Toys are age-appropriate. Check the age-grading on the packaging – it’s there for safety as well as child development reasons.
- Toys for 3 year olds & under don’t present a choking hazard. Make sure no small parts can come off, and ensure no toy can fit into a cylinder pencil sharpener or film canister (approximate diameter 32 mm).
- You’re not purchasing a banned product by mistake. Even ‘innocent’-looking products could be subject to one of the 22 permanent bans that are in place right now: www.productsafety.gov.au/bans
Before you shop, check:
- No products on your shopping list have been recalled. Download the Recalls Android or iPhone app or check the Recalls website to find out.
- You’re following ACCC Product Safety on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube for the latest info on product safety in Australia. You can see our social media sites even if you’re not signed up to them!
- You’re getting email alerts and/or RSS feeds from our websites:
www.productsafety.gov.au
www.recalls.gov.au
Contact details
Media inquiries:
Ms Meg Macfarlan, (02) 6243 1317 or 0408 995 408
General inquiries:
ACCC Infocentre: 1300 302 502
NR 243/12
Responsible regulator
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
