Consumer Protection Regulations Need Overhaul

Green Party Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Sue Kedgley is calling for a review of New Zealand's consumer protection regulations and practices as another toy company embarks on a huge world wide recall.

Toy manufacturer Mattel is in the process of recalling nearly a million toys internationally, after investigations found unacceptably high levels of lead in their paint. This comes in the wake of a similar recall of Thomas & Friends wooden toys made by RC2, and as concern snowballs over various Chinese imports such as pet food, tyres, seafood, toothpaste and fresh produce.

“Our consumer protection system is reactive, seemingly only responding when a scandal breaks overseas. It appears to be based on the notion that all consumer products sold in New Zealand are safe and true to label - which is obviously naïve in the wake of recent controversy over the safety of imports from China.

“We need to completely re-evaluate and strengthen consumer protection in New Zealand. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs should have a far more proactive role in assuring the safety of consumer products, instead of just advising companies on how to recall a product once something has been found to be unsafe.

“It should also actively establish and monitor standards and undertake random testing of consumer products, rather than just waiting for scandals to emerge overseas,” Ms Kedgley says.

“Toy safety is particularly important, as the target market - children - often put toys into their mouths. There needs to be much better quality assurance rather than an assumption that every toy imported into New Zealand is safe.

“Clearly the current approach is not working and the Government needs to step up. The Americans have convened a panel to conduct a high level review of their procedures and regulations, including examining safety issues in countries that send goods to the United States. New Zealand should follow suit,” Ms Kedgley says.

Mattel is expected to announce the New Zealand recall tomorrow.