Keeping your Christmas customers safe

Product safety is crucial, no matter what time of year it is. We’ve gathered some rules that you must follow when selling popular or common products.  

By ensuring your products meet New Zealand’s safety standards, you’re protecting your customers and spreading holiday cheer the responsible way.

When it comes to toys, safety is key. Products for babies and children must:

• clearly state the age range
• avoid choking, strangulation, or fall hazards
• be free of sharp edges or toxic materials
• not have small removable or breakable parts
• clearly communicate safety information for unassembled toys.

Stay vigilant even with exempt items like books or crayons if they are marketed to young children. 

Toys for children under 3 must not contain small parts or parts that could easily come loose that pose a choking hazard.

Consider how a child might use a product in unexpected ways, such as chewing a toy that wasn’t meant to be chewed. 

Avoid suppling products for children containing button batteries. Light and sound toys, decorations and Christmas novelty items often contain button batteries.

Button batteries pose serious and potentially fatal risks if swallowed.

If they are inserted into the ears or nose there can also be serious consequences. 

Pools and paddling pools can be great fun, but it is important to remind your customers that it comes with serious safety responsibilities.

Under New Zealand law, any residential pool that can hold 40cm (400mm) or more of water, including portable and temporary pools, must have a physical barrier to prevent unsupervised access by children under five. 

Whether you're selling Christmas cookies or gourmet hampers, make sure your products meet food safety standards.

From reusable Christmas-themed containers to festive drinkware, anything that comes into contact with food must be safe and non-toxic.

Check out the Ministry for Primary Industries website for all food related safety. 

If you're stocking wellness gifts such as herbal remedies or essential oils, check that they comply with therapeutic product regulations.

Medsafe have information about the regulations for these products. 

Selling ride-on toys, helmets, or car seats this Christmas? These must meet strict safety standards.

Visit NZTA’s website for product information.

Nothing says holiday cheer more than fairy lights on the Christmas tree. Electric and gas appliances are a great gift idea too, but they must be safe to use.

If you’re selling holiday treats such as scented, and cosmetics, check for safe ingredients and proper labelling, especially for products with strong fragrances or chemicals.