NSW: Blacklist of 27 dangerous toys banned before Christmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2001
NSW: Blacklist of 27 dangerous toys banned before Christmas

By Roz King

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - An archery set with pointed arrows and a cigarette lighter-shaped
water squirter are among 27 toys banned from the shelves this Christmas.

The plastic caps at the end of the arrows easily come off, turning them into weapons
capable of causing serious eye damage, NSW Fair Trading Minister John Aquilina said.

The state government had also banned a range of popular bean-bag soft toys with seams
that could rip open, spilling hundreds of tiny plastic balls.

Most of the toys in the list were banned for containing small parts that could choke
children, Mr Aquilina said.

"Anybody who has already bought these toys will be able to return them and get a full
refund," Mr Aquilina said.

There were also toys posing electrical risks, such as a 240 volt children's lamp and
a set of 240 volt musical Christmas lights with 24 volt wires.

Invisible ink was also on the list, because its strong alkali could cause eye damage.

The water-squirter in the shape of a cigarette lighter was also banned because it was
inappropriate for children, Mr Aquilina said.

The blacklisted toys would now be taken off the shelves and shops could face fines
of up to $110,000 for selling them.

Fair trading inspectors identified the 27 toys after visiting 146 Sydney stores and
392 regional stores, and examining more than 125,000 items, he said.

AAP rk/jjs/mk

KEYWORD: TOYS (WITH FACTBOX)

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