Overview
- Consumer Protection WA tested 49 items from six online marketplaces and found only three compliant with mandatory safety and information standards.
- Inspectors identified unsecured battery compartments and missing warning labels across items such as costume accessories, skeleton candlesticks, spider tea lights, pumpkin tote bags, and flashing rings.
- In one case, button batteries were found loose inside a delivered product’s packaging, underscoring the ingestion danger for young children.
- The WA Government says platforms have removed non-compliant listings and has flagged possible voluntary recalls as investigations continue.
- Authorities report about 90% compliance in bricks-and-mortar stores and note three Australian children have died after ingesting button batteries.