Poison toy risk - Product Safety Banning Order - Bindeez

Issue Date: - Tuesday, 6 November 2007

The 2007 Toy of the Year Bindeez is being removed from shelves around Australia amid concerns that children ingesting the tiny bead-like parts risk poisoning.

In the past week and a half two NSW children, one aged two and one aged ten, became seriously ill after swallowing a number of the beads.

Symptoms of the poisonings have included seizures and fitting.

“After becoming aware of this situation earlier today, I am implementing an immediate Interim Banning Order on this product and have sent Product Safety and other Consumer Protection officers into the community to locate and remove these items from shelves,” Consumer Protection Commissioner for WA Patrick Walker said.

“The Interim Banning Order requires all sales of these items to cease immediately and allows us 28 days in which to make inquiries and arrange for the Order to be extended or made permanent,” he said.

Initial information suggests that the small colourful beads once swallowed metabolize and release harmful chemicals into the body.

“We have been informed that the Australian distributor of the China manufactured product Moose Enterprise Pty Ltd in Victoria has issued a Product Withdrawal Request to retailers, and that national retailers have already taken their stock of these items from the shelves.

“Our staff have commenced visiting all the usual toy outlets and over the following days I expect media coverage of the matter will also assist with getting the message widely spread.

“Parents, Grandparents or anyone who has purchased Bindeez should return them to their place of purchase for a refund,” Commissioner Walker said.

Consumers experiencing difficulties in obtaining refunds or requiring further information should contact Consumer Protection on telephone 1300 30 40 54 or by email consumer@docep.wa.gov.au .