When you buy consumer goods, they should be safe.
The Consumer Safety (Jersey) Law 2006 protects you against the supply of dangerous goods. It doesn’t matter if you bought, hired or were given the goods for free. They should be safe.
Where to get help
Contact Trading Standards if you have goods which:
Buying from a reputable trader
Only buy goods from a reputable trader.
You should take extra care when buying goods on the internet.
There is an increasing number of non-EU sellers advertising through online marketplaces (eg eBay and Amazon).
If you are buying through a marketplace, make sure you know who the seller is.
You may be able to click on the name to display their address. Goods bought from sellers outside the EU may not comply with stringent EU and Jersey safety standards, you may experience long delivery delays and the cost of returning the goods may exceed the price you paid.
Your contract is with the seller not the marketplace so unless you are confident that they are a Jersey, UK or EU reputable trader, you could be buying from anyone.
Instructions and safety warnings
It’s important that you always read and follow any instructions and safety warnings that come with the goods.
If you didn’t receive this information, contact the trader. This also applies when you buy second-hand goods or hire goods.
Age appropriate warnings
Always supervise children during play and make sure they only have access to toys specifically designed for their age group. Don’t be tempted to let them play with toys beyond their age range under the misguided impression that they are advanced for their age.
Age appropriate warnings are often applied to goods for safety reasons, which as a parent you may not be fully aware of.
Here is the age appropriate EU standard warning applied to goods not suitable for children under three years of age.
Other risks to children
Children are also at risk from other consumer goods. Examples include medicines, dish and clothes washing tablets, cleaning products, small button batteries, matches, blind cords, e-cigarettes.
Further information on child accident prevention (CAP) is available on the website.
Child accident prevention on the CAPJ website
Personal protective equipment
Trading Standards recommend that you always provide children with personal protective equipment recommended to safely use the goods. Examples include cycle helmets, high visibility vests and knee and elbow pads. You should also encourage them to wear them. Reputable retailers will stock this equipment.
Do not be tempted to buy cheap protective equipment from unknown traders. It may not comply with the appropriate safety standards.
Counterfeit or ‘fake’ goods
Don’t be tempted to buy branded goods which are so cheap they must be counterfeit. These goods will not have gone through all of the rigorous safety checks and can be dangerous or even contain hazardous substances.
Never consume counterfeit alcohol, smoke counterfeit cigarettes, apply counterfeit cosmetic products and perfume to your skin or plug in fake electrical goods.
Protecting yourself and your family
Examine the product carefully before use. If you have any concerns contact Trading Standards.
Product recalls and safety notices.
You can receive email alerts of product recalls and safety warnings by going to the mygov website and registering for notifications. You can then select the category you are interested in.
Subscribe to receive Product Recall notifications
gov.je