Panda Mart banned from trading for 72 hours after hundreds of illegal items found on shelves
An urgent court order has banned budget retailer Panda Mart from operating in Victoria after hundreds of illegal items were discovered on the shelves.A number of concerning items have been found at the Cranbourne and Preston stores, including candles with flammable content next to the wick, toys with unsecured button batteries, items with choking hazards and flotation devices without adequate warnings.The discount shop, which first opened in Melbourne earlier this year, will remain closed for 72 hours from 9am today while a full compliance inspection takes place.Panda Mart opened two locations earlier this year in Victoria. (Supplied)
Inspectors will identify, seize and remove the non-compliant products from the shelves during this time.
Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said most items at the Preston Panda Mart met safety standards during a September inspection after a warning was issued about the Cranbourne store.
However, Rich said a recent inspection found both stores had shelves re-filled with the non-compliant products.
“It’s particularly disappointing that Panda Mart appears to have gone from meeting their obligations to restocking their shelves with products that pose a serious danger to the public,” Rich said.
“These items are banned or heavily regulated for a reason. Flammable candles, button batteries and toys with small parts that can cause choking are all known killers.
“Every business is responsible for ensuring that the products they sell are safe. Being ignorant is no excuse.”
Businesses can be fined up to $50 million, and individuals $2.5 million, for selling products that don’t meet mandatory safety or information standards.
Panda Mart opened its first store in South Africa more than a decade ago.
It now has locations in South America, the US and New Zealand.
They arrived on Australian shores with a discounted catalogue of more than 28,000 homeware products, many of them reportedly sourced from China’s wholesale markets.
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