The Reject Shop has been fined more than $133,000 for selling Halloween novelty products containing potentially lethal button batteries.
This fine, along with a similar one for homewares retailer Dusk, marks the ACCC’s first enforcement outcomes under button battery standards introduced last year.
“Button batteries are extremely dangerous for young children and tragically, children have been seriously injured or died from swallowing or ingesting them,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“The batteries were contained in products likely to be attractive to young children who are most at risk of harm from unsecured batteries.
“It is essential that businesses comply with Australia’s world-first button battery standards to prevent further injuries and deaths from button batteries.”
Between 29 September 2022 and 16 December 2022, The Reject Shop supplied 20,768 units of a Halloween-themed LED Light Up Pumpkin product, which contained button batteries. The Reject Shop sold them before obtained testing results demonstrating the product was compliant.
The Reject Shop paid an infringement notice penalty of $133,200 for allegedly failing to test the product for compliance with relevant provisions of applicable industry standards prior to supply as required by the Safety Standard.
The restrictions, brought into play last year, require products to have secure battery compartments to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries; for button batteries to be sold in child resistant packaging; and warnings and emergency advice to be on packaging and instructions.
