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Cotton On Australia hit with five-figure fine after customer injuries
Retailer Cotton On Australia has paid almost $20,000 in fines after it allegedly failed mandatory reporting guidelines on customer injuries.
- Retailer Cotton On Australia has paid almost $20,000 in fines after it allegedly failed mandatory reporting guidelines on customer injuries.
- The injuries related to two products — a pair of Supre branded jeans and a Typo branded snow globe. Neither product was found to be unsafe.
- Under Consumer Law, retailers must report injuries suffered by customers within two days.
Cotton On Australia has had to pay thousands in civil penalties after it failed to notify the regulator of two injuries suffered by customers after using its products.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today said Cotton On paid penalties totalling $19,800 after it was issued with two separate infringement notices.
The consumer watchdog alleges that Cotton On was informed of an injury sustained from a Supre-branded pair of jeans, and a Typo-branded Christmas snow globe.
Under Australian Consumer Law, suppliers must submit a report within two days after becoming aware of any serious injury or death which may have been caused caused as a result of using their products.
ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said mandatory reporting was necessary to ensure consumers were safe.
“Mandatory reporting helps the ACCC identify potentially unsafe products quickly and act promptly to protect consumers from harm,” he said.
“Suppliers must have systems in place to identify reportable incidents and notify the ACCC within the required two-day timeframe.”
Cotton On undertook a risk assessment of both products and confirmed the injuries sustained by the shoppers did not arise from a defect or safety issue with the products.
“While the ACCC has not identified any safety concerns about the products, Cotton On’s alleged reporting failures delayed important product-safety information reaching us,” Woodward said.
“The failure to report serious safety incidents quickly is serious because it may delay urgent safety action, including recalls, and could put other consumers at risk of injury or death.”
Cotton On has committed to conduct regular audits of consumer complaints it receives where an injury or illness is recorded for three years.
Cotton On Australia includes brands such as Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Cotton On Body, Factorie, Rubi, Supre, Typo and Ceres Life.