Buyers warned of safety hazards posed by some baby products sold on Shopee and Lazada
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Non-compliant products include baby bouncers with detachable parts that may cause choking, and unstable bouncers and walkers that may topple.
PHOTO: ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE
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SINGAPORE – Consumers have been urged to be cautious when buying baby products from e-commerce platforms after items from some listings were found to be unsafe.
In the first half of 2024, 15 out of 23 product samples purchased from Shopee and Lazada were found to be unsafe upon inspection, said Enterprise Singapore in a statement on Sept 26.
These non-compliant products include baby bouncers and toys with detachable parts that may cause choking or strangulation, and unstable bouncers and walkers that may topple.
Retailers have since been contacted, and have removed the product listings. Those who have purchased the affected products are advised to stop using them, said Enterprise Singapore.
The KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital has seen an annual average of 46 incidents involving children and toys with small parts over the past two years. In severe cases, the ingesting of the parts had led to the blockage of intestines or resulted in death from choking.
Some of the items were found to have loose and small, removable parts that may cause choking, while others had insecure brakes or parts with sharp points which may cause injuries.
PHOTOS: ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE
More than 10 injuries arising from the use of baby walkers and bouncers are also registered by the hospital every year, said the statement.
Consumers should buy a product only if the seller is reputable and if they deem the product safe and suitable after reading any instructions or guidelines. They are also advised to inspect the product upon receiving it and supervise children when they are playing with it.
Those found guilty of not complying with the Consumer Product Safety Office’s directions to stop the sale of unsafe products may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
