Australian regulator orders Amazon, others to remove banned magnetic toys

Australia's competition regulator has taken action against major online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, Kogan, and Fruugo, ordering them to remove listings for banned magnetic toys. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued takedown requests after identifying products, such as magnetic chess-style toys, that pose life-threatening risks if swallowed by children. These toys contain small, powerful magnets that can attract each other inside the body, causing severe internal injuries.

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Customer safety is our top priority.

The ACCC is actively investigating the supply of these banned toys and games, which are prohibited due to the danger posed by loose or separable magnets. The marketplaces involved have agreed to cooperate by removing the affected listings, notifying customers, and preventing the relisting of these hazardous products. Amazon has stated that customer safety is its top priority and has banned magnetic battle chess games from its store, irrespective of their legal sale status in Australia. eBay confirmed that listings violating its product safety policy are promptly removed after review.

ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe urged consumers to immediately stop using the affected products, keep them away from children, and seek refunds. She also called upon all retailers, both online and in physical stores, to review their toy inventory and recall any non-compliant products. The ACCC indicated that it will continue its investigation and may pursue further enforcement action against non-compliant parties.

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listings found to breach its product safety policy were promptly removed after review.

This action follows closely on the heels of another regulatory move by the ACCC against Amazon's Australian unit. Just days prior, the regulator sued Amazon over alleged breaches of button-battery warning rules for children's backpacks, marking the Federal Court's first case against an online marketplace concerning mandatory product safety standards. The ACCC's persistent focus on online safety underscores the growing challenges of regulating e-commerce platforms.

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She also called on online and bricks-and-mortar retailers to review toys and games and recall any non-compliant products.