Media Releases

17 April 1998

Pram and Cot Safety Under Review

The public is being asked for its views on how to improve safety for children in prams and strollers, and in household cots, said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs today. Discussion documents have been released by the Ministry outlining the results of the its investigation into the need for product safety standards for prams and cots.

"In the ten years between 1985 and 1994, 22 deaths and 115 hospitalisation injuries to children were associated with cots," said Tony Leverton, Manager of the Ministry’s Trading Standards Service. "For that same period there were 3 deaths and 219 hospitalisation injuries to children associated with prams, strollers and push-chairs. The indications are that this is a continuing trend."

"As a result of the Ministerial Infant Products Safety Forum in October last year, the Ministry undertook to prepare public discussion documents outlining the issues affecting safety for prams and strollers, cots and cigarette lighters," said Mr Leverton.

"The first two papers are now released, with a closing date for comments of 24 July. The paper on cigarette lighter safety will take the form of a Ministerial Consultation paper, and is expected to be released soon, with a shorter time-frame for feedback," he said.

Copies of the prams and cots papers have been mailed out to a number of key interest groups. Further copies are available on request from the Ministry's Head Office in Wellington. The Ministry urges interested people, organisations and affected groups to consider the discussion papers and respond.