A recent report highlights the ongoing sale of potentially dangerous children’s car seats on popular online marketplaces, despite previous warnings from consumer groups. Concerns regarding these fabric seats were first raised by trading standards officers and the consumer organization Which? in 2014, when they were deemed unsafe and illegal for use in the UK. The organization’s tests revealed significant safety defects, leading to their designation as unsafe.
Parents are being cautioned against purchasing low-cost options, as these seats are currently available on websites such as Shein and eBay. Regulatory guidelines dictate that only child car seats approved under EU standards—designated with R44 or R129 codes—are legal for use in the UK; these approved seats also carry a brightly colored orange label indicating they have passed safety testing.
Surrey Trading Standards has documented severe failures in non-compliant seats, including a test where a simulated three-year-old child was ejected during a crash test due to inadequate safety restraints. Prices for these unsafe alternatives can be as low as £12.50, significantly less than the typical cost of compliant seats, which exceed £80.
Which? identified more than a dozen illegal listings on multiple websites that claim to sell approved child car seats. One eBay listing even warned against using the seat in high-speed vehicles, despite contradicting its description as suitable for cars. In response to these findings, eBay stated that consumer safety is a priority, and it is enhancing its measures to prevent unsafe products from being sold.
Which? has called for more stringent regulations to ensure online marketplaces are held accountable for the sale of unsafe items, suggesting that failure to comply increases the risk of harm to children. Various retailers reiterated their commitment to safety, asserting that measures are in place to enforce compliance and promote responsible selling practices.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8643d1p85zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss