The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Hīkina Whakatutuki (MBIE) issued over 50 product recall alerts yesterday (Thursday January 16) including baby gear, children’s toys, bikes, clothing and bedding, farm and utility vehicles, tyres, industrial equipment and more.

MBIE’s free to subscribers, product alert email hadn’t been operating recently although notices could be viewed on the Product Safety NZ website.

Business specialist, Ian Caplin said, “we have managed to fix the issue this week which triggered an update which included all recalls since it went down”.

The period since September includes some of the year’s highest volume consumer shopping days including November’s Black Friday sales and the busy Christmas period.

Some of the 50 products being recalled.

Fourteen of the fifty product recalls were sold by Panda Mart (also trading as PD Mart) which is currently under investigation by the Commerce Commission.

The product recalls list includes children’s toys, headlights for Crocs shoes and Christmas themed bedding along with bigger ticket items such as specific models of John Deer, Polaris, Can-Am and Kubota mowers, tractors and utility vehicles.

Potential issues include significant parts failures, choking and swallowing risks, toxic fumes and fire hazards.

“Staying up to date on any recalls is important for New Zealanders to stay safe”, Ian said.

“There is no prescribed timeframe in which a recall is effective however it is a requirement under the Fair-Trading Act that the recall notice is publicly available for at least two years.”

Consumers can see all product recall notices on the Product Safety NZ website and subscribe to specific categories of product recalls they are most interested in or follow the product recalls page on Facebook.

In some cases, businesses will contact purchasers directly or publish their own recall notices in their stores, on their websites or via social media.

The Consumer Guarantees Act says products must be of acceptable quality, including safe to use. If a product is unsafe — or doesn't meet mandatory product safety requirements — you have the right to a refund, repair, or replacement.

You may also be able to claim compensation for loss due to any damage caused by the unsafe product. 

An Insurance Council of New Zealand spokesperson said, "insurers are likely to cover the loss or damage caused by products if the homeowner had bought them in good faith and had not been notified about the recall and safety issues."  

"People have a responsibility under their home insurance policies to take reasonable care, so in the case of a notified product recall, homeowners and landlords would be expected to follow the instructions of Worksafe, the manufacturer or the retailer who provided the advice about the recall."

"Not doing so is likely to cause issues at claim time."

MBIE’s advice for consumers is to look carefully at what you are purchasing to ensure the product is safe whether you are shopping in stores or online;

• look for safety standard labels as these will be safer to use. Products meeting an Australian or New Zealand Standard may carry the letters AS/NZS. 
• don’t buy toys for babies and toddlers that have hazards such as small loose parts, button batteries, unsecured strings, cords or sharp edges.
• choose soft toys, art materials and face paints are labelled “non-toxic”
• buy age and development appropriate toys for children. Check the packaging for who the toy is designed for and be sure to follow instructions on safe assembling and use.

See the list of yesterday's product recalls here.