The Commerce Commission has halted the sale of child car seats at PD Mart, which has a store in Christchurch, over serious safety concerns.
The Commission issued a “Stop Now” letter to the retailer, formerly trading as Panda Mart, after identifying potentially misleading labelling that suggested the car seats complied with recognised safety standards.
Competition, Fair Trading and Credit General Manager Vanessa Horne said the Commission would not tolerate risks to children.
“The Commission has zero tolerance for risks to children’s safety. Product safety is one of our enduring priorities under the Fair Trading Act,” Horne said.
“During this investigation, we identified issues with car seats, which featured labels claiming compliance with recognised safety standards – claims we believe may be false or misleading.”
Initial assessments found the seats did not meet all requirements of the standards and, in some cases, lacked clear installation instructions.
“When critical information regarding installation and use is not provided, the consequences can be serious. Families must be given the guidance they need to use products safely,” Horne said.
She said the Commission was particularly concerned because PD Mart markets its products as up to 30 percent cheaper than major competitors, meaning families with limited budgets could be affected.
The Commission’s action has resulted in PD Mart recalling seven models of car seats, with 176 units in total affected. Full refunds are being offered.
Recalls and images of the products are published on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.
The Commission said its wider investigation into PD Mart is ongoing.
