A BROWNS Plains importer has been fined $175,000 and ordered to pay costs for the possession and supply of unsafe toys and magnets.
The sentencing magistrate said the penalty handed down should act as a deterrent for businesses recklessly supplying items that posed a significant risk to young children.
And the Office of Fair Trading has warned that those the breach the laws would fee the full force of the law.
Business owner Xibo Zhu, sole director of Sunrise Imports Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying and possessing banned consumer goods that did not meet safety standards under Australian consumer law.
The charges followed the purchase of Hematite rattle snake singing and dancing magnets and health and relaxing stress ball magnets from Sunrise Imports on September 12, 2017.
Lab tests on the products confirmed they did not comply with the permanent ban on small high powered magnets.
A search was executed at a Browns Plains warehouse on October 17.
A musical flashing duck stick was seized.
Tests confirmed small parts could break off the toy and create a choking hazard for children younger than three.
Mr Zhu was also ordered to pay $1,727 in costs for product tests.
Convictions were recorded against him and Sunrise Imports Pty Ltd.
Mr Bauer said mandatory safety standards must be met.
“Traders who fail to comply with product bans or mandatory standards can expect enforcement action to be taken by the OFT,” Mr Bauer said.
“Small high powered magnets were banned because they can cause serious and even fatal internal injuries if two or more are swallowed.
“The magnets can attract and stick to each other across internal tissue, which can cause tissue damage and perforation, leading to infection, sepsis and even death.
“Non-compliant unsafe toys for children up to and including 36 months that contain or release small parts present serious hazards to children, including choking or suffocation.
“Children need to be protected from dangerous toys and magnets and the OFT will continue its efforts to keep these unsafe products off Queensland shelves.”
Report unsafe toys to www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68).