Halesowen trader fined for selling unsafe baby booster seats

Dean Price, managing director of Venture Distribution, in Chancel Way, Halesowen, admitted placing the baby booster seats on the market, which did not comply with the current British standards.

The booster seats, designed to affix to a dining room chair, used strapping which was ‘too slippy’ and presented a risk of a child falling from the chair.

The product was also delivered in plastic packaging that was either too thin or without sufficient perforation to prevent a ‘serious’ suffocation hazard.

The labelling, warnings and information accompanying the seat were also insufficient, a court heard.

Price was told by Dudley Council’s trading standards the consignment of booster seats he had imported from China failed to comply with the British Standard BS EN 16120.

The importer was also told to immediately quarantine any remaining stock – yet the online retailer continued to advertise the item on Amazon, eBay and via his own website.

The unsafe consignment was then formally suspended from further supply and a withdrawal notice was served on the trader, which requires the whereabouts of the batch to be known by Dudley’s trading standards at all times.

On March 15, at Dudley Magistrates' Court, the company was fined £10,000 for placing the unsafe product on the market and contravening the requirements of professional diligence, as well as £3,688 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge.

Price must also carry out 100 hours unpaid community service and pay a £85 victim surcharge.