The consumer watchdog has ordered online retailers including Amazon and eBay to halt sales of a range of toys and games products – including chess sets – marketed for children that contain potentially deadly magnets if swallowed.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it is investigating the supply of banned and potentially deadly toys and games containing small high-powered magnets, including “magnetic chess” or “magnetic battle chess” style games.
The ACCC said it has sent Amazon, eBay, Kogan and Fruugo take-down requests for the affected products and sought additional measures to prevent sellers relisting the same or similar products. It said the retailers had committed to these actions.
Certain separable or loose small high-powered magnets are covered by a permanent ban under law because of the danger of injury or death if swallowed.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said the magnets were a choking risk, but could also wreak havoc with internal organs.
“Small high-powered magnets can cause catastrophic, life-threatening internal injuries if swallowed, particularly for young children. Multiple magnets can stick together in the intestine or digestive tissue,” she said.
The ban on these magnets has been in place since 2012, she added. “We are concerned these products continue to emerge for sale on marketplaces,” Lowe said.
“We urge all online marketplaces to do more to prevent listings of these products to keep consumers, and especially young children, safe.”
Lowe urged anyone who had bought affected products to stop using them and keep them out of reach of children. She said they could contact the seller for a refund.
The ACCC has signalled it is cracking down harder on online marketplaces as part of its priorities this year.
“There is no question that online marketplaces are an increasing part of commerce in Australia,” said Lowe. “As that influence grows, it is really important that consumers remain protected in the same way as they traditionally have.”
A Kogan spokeswoman said “customer safety remains our highest priority” and that all products with the illegal magnets had now been removed.
An Amazon spokesman said safety was the company’s top priority. “We have implemented a policy which prohibits magnetic battle chess games from being listed in our store, regardless of whether those products can be lawfully sold in Australia,” the spokesman said.
Amazon is a founding signatory to the Australian Product Safety Pledge, which names eBay Australia and AliExpress as two other signatories. The consumer watchdog is in discussions with other companies about signing up to the pledge, which will be updated in coming weeks, said Lowe.
The take-down orders come days after the ACCC announced it was taking legal action against Amazon over separate safety concerns related to button batteries and a Unicorn-themed backpack it was selling marketed for toddlers.
The Unicorn Toddler backpacks included a detachable light-up unicorn plush toy containing button batteries. The ACCC is alleging Amazon sold 41 of the backpacks in Australia in 2022.
Elias Visontay is a National Consumer Affairs Reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.