Coast toy shop fined $11k for ‘fun crossbow’

A GOLD Coast toy shop has been fined nearly $11,000 for selling a “fun crossbow”.

My Toys and Hobbies at Carrara Markets was slugged $10,800 in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday after owners pleaded guilty to one charge of supplying goods that do not comply with safety standards. A conviction was recorded.

In May last year, Office of Fair Trading (OFT) officers seized samples of the toy from the stall, which was run by BB Toyman PTY Ltd, for testing.

OFT found the fun crossbow failed the mandatory safety standard for projectile toys.

They described it as a lightweight toy that shoots suctiontipped plastic darts. In sentencing, the court considered the power of the toy, the danger it posed to children and the lack of effort by the trader to ensure the crossbow complied with safety standards after previously being warned by OFT.

The court also took into consideration the shop’s successful removal of non-compliant items in the past.

OFT said inspectors proactively spot-check wholesalers, retailers and importers of goods as well as investigate complaints about unsafe goods.