A statement released by the Commerce Commission said home goods chain Bed, Bath & Beyond has been fined $230,000 for selling non-compliant children’s pyjamas and hot water bottles.
According to reports, the chain sold 27,374 products between March and October 2023 that lacked the legally mandated safety information in the required locations.
3,753 children’s flannelette pyjama sets were reported to be missing the necessary fire hazard information in the required visible area or in their online descriptions. Additionally, 23,801 hot water bottles failed to provide instructions regarding safe usage and storage.
The commission stated that the case was important because of the magnitude of the problem and the extent of potential harm involved.
“It was important for us to take this case as this is the largest number of items that didn’t comply with product safety requirements the commission has seen,” Commerce Commission general manager of competition, fair trading, and credit, Vanessa Horne, said.
Horne emphasised that the failures increased the risk of harm for more than 27,000 consumers who bought the products.
She said it is crucial for businesses to ensure that their products meet the legal requirements and are safe for the user, especially when it comes to fire safety and burn prevention.
“It’s vital businesses have rigorous compliance processes to ensure they follow all labelling obligations,” Horne stated.