A THURROCK based company and its director have been forced to pay out more than £4,100 after they failed to follow advice to ensure that imported toys met proper safety standards and did not pose a danger to children.
JL Supplies Ltd were fined £600 and ordered to pay £937 costs and £60 victim surcharge while company director, Jonathon Laidlaw was fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £140 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to importing and supplying unsafe toys that could have hurt children when he appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on 14 April.
An inspection by Thurrock Council Trading Standards officers carried out at the company premises in Horndon-on-the-Hill found the supplier had toys that didn’t have safety documentation. Further testing found a number of unsafe toys which put children at risk of choking and asphyxiation and other toys which did not carry the proper documentation and labelling.
This prosecution came after repeated attempts by the council to work with the business to ensure they were complying with their legal obligations to import and supply safe goods. Extensive advice had been given but the business had failed to act on it.
Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards work hard to keep all residents, and especially children, safe from rogue traders and dangerous goods.
Members of the public should make sure they only purchase from reputable retailers, look out for age warnings on toys, ensure there is a name and address of the manufacturer/importer on the pack and that it has the CE/UKCE mark. Residents can report the sale of unsafe toys to Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133.
