Ireland’s consumer watchdog has ordered Amazon, Etsy, Shein and other online sites to remove dozens of baby products from their platforms over safety fears.
Together with regulators across the European Union a total of 252 listings for baby products were taken down.
The 72 listings ordered offline by Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) included baby carriers, slings, and baby walkers featured on Amazon, Shein, Etsy, eBay, Fruugo and Joom.
All the platforms complied and all 72 listings were taken off the sites at the CCPC’s request.
EU-wide online sweep conducted under new product safety laws uncovers widespread safety and compliance issues, the CCPC says.
Nearly one-third of the product listings taken offline were instigated by Irish authorities.
The CCPC is responsble for enforcing European consumer protection law on any online and offline shops and shopping platforms with headquarters in Ireland.
Altogether European watchdogs scrutinised 1,741 listings for baby products.
The ability to enforce takedown orders has been sttrengthened by new product safety legislation which came into force in December.
The CCPC said action was taken against products which “failed to meet minimum safety and compliance information requirements or featured products that had already been recalled from the market”.
“Many parents turn to online marketplaces for convenience when buying baby products, and they deserve to know that the item is safe”, said CCPC’s chair, Brian McHugh.
“Our product safety officers issue recalls for tens of thousands of items every year and traceability is critically important. Online marketplaces have a duty to be transparent about what they’re selling and provide contact details in the event a product is unsafe.
“We’re pleased that the online marketplaces co-operated when we contacted them, and the listings were taken down promptly. The work of our officers, in collaboration with colleagues across EU, has stopped hundreds of potentially unsafe products being offered for sale to Irish consumers.”