London,
09
September
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London
Trading Standards toy safety warning
Parents are being urged to make sure their children’s toys carry the right safety marks. This warning follows the prosecution of a local shop owner for selling toys which could be dangerous to young children.
The owner of the Big Discount Store in Stamford Hill, N16 pleaded guilty to selling toys, which did not meet proper safety standards at Thames Magistrates Court on 3 September 2008. Mr Erdem Ergonul was fined £1,000 plus £600 costs. The Court also ordered that the toys should be destroyed.
A local resident alerted Trading Standards to the potentially dangerous toys on sale at the shop, after she bought a doll for £4.99. The doll did not have a CE mark and contained small parts which were likely to be a choking hazard. The packaging was also considered unsafe when examined by Trading Standards officers.
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Consumers in Hackney should always get in touch with our Trading Standards team if they have any concerns about a product they’ve bought, especially when it concerns children’s safety, as in this case. Laws are in place to make sure products we buy are safe, when traders ignore those laws they will face prosecution.”
Trading Standards officers seized the remaining stock of dolls from the shop in August last year and other toys which they had safety concerns about, including magnetic colour drawing and writing boards and a pack of toy cars.
The toys failed subsequent safety tests due to small parts, packaging, detachable magnets and sharp edges. Mr Ergonul did not have any checking procedures in place and failed to request compliance certificates that the toys met the legal requirements. He was unable to provide test certificates.
If you suspect that a trader is selling goods that are unsafe, contact Hackney Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.
Ends
Notes to editor
· Toy (Safety) Regulations 1995 requires all toys to satisfy the essential safety requirements and to display a CE mark on either the packaging or the product with supplier details. Toys should carry warnings were required in relation to minimum age of child or hazards, etc.
The owner of the Big Discount Store in Stamford Hill, N16 pleaded guilty to selling toys, which did not meet proper safety standards at Thames Magistrates Court on 3 September 2008. Mr Erdem Ergonul was fined £1,000 plus £600 costs. The Court also ordered that the toys should be destroyed.
A local resident alerted Trading Standards to the potentially dangerous toys on sale at the shop, after she bought a doll for £4.99. The doll did not have a CE mark and contained small parts which were likely to be a choking hazard. The packaging was also considered unsafe when examined by Trading Standards officers.
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Consumers in Hackney should always get in touch with our Trading Standards team if they have any concerns about a product they’ve bought, especially when it concerns children’s safety, as in this case. Laws are in place to make sure products we buy are safe, when traders ignore those laws they will face prosecution.”
Trading Standards officers seized the remaining stock of dolls from the shop in August last year and other toys which they had safety concerns about, including magnetic colour drawing and writing boards and a pack of toy cars.
The toys failed subsequent safety tests due to small parts, packaging, detachable magnets and sharp edges. Mr Ergonul did not have any checking procedures in place and failed to request compliance certificates that the toys met the legal requirements. He was unable to provide test certificates.
If you suspect that a trader is selling goods that are unsafe, contact Hackney Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.
Ends
Notes to editor
· Toy (Safety) Regulations 1995 requires all toys to satisfy the essential safety requirements and to display a CE mark on either the packaging or the product with supplier details. Toys should carry warnings were required in relation to minimum age of child or hazards, etc.