Industry | 2009.11.12
Maclaren bows to pushchair pressure
UK customers concerned about safety of its pushchairs can now obtain hinge covers previously offered only in US
The UK-based baby buggy manufacturer Maclaren said today it would issue special "safety kits" for British parents concerned about its pushchairs, in a U-turn forced by consumer groups.
The company, which this week said it was providing the kits in the US after 12 children had their fingertips cut off when trapped in the hinges, had insisted such action was not necessary in the UK.
The company said customers could now obtain the hinge covers – which can be used to protect a pushchair\'s folding mechanism– free of charge through the its customer services department.
The U-turn came after the Department for Business today called for Maclaren to take a "fresh look" at the safety concerns. A spokesman said: "Given the number of UK consumers that have now come forward giving details of injuries allegedly caused by these buggies, Maclaren should take a fresh look at this issue. A modification kit has been made available in the US and UK consumers will expect the same treatment."Maclaren announced on Monday a US recall, which is different to a product withdrawal and involved supplying parents with the extra hinge covers to stop children getting their hands caught. Consumer groups such as Consumer Focus and Which? called for British shoppers to be given the same levels of protection as Americans and advised parents to boycott the models in question if they were worried they were unsafe.
Trading standards experts and the company said a similar measure was not necessary in the UK, and maintained that the buggies were safe to use providing they were put up correctly. They claimed there had been only one injury in the UK, although by today more parents had contacted talkboards claiming their children had been hurt.
Dylan Johnson, general manager of Maclaren UK, which is based in Long Buckby, Northants, said: "Most of the people at Maclaren are parents themselves and understand that our children come first. That\'s why we ensure that our products meet and often exceed the EU and US product safety and quality standards. In the last few days, we have heard from hundreds of customers at our call centre and we have been able to reassure them about the quality and safety of our products."
Trade bodies continued to back Maclaren. Michele Bates, a spokeswoman for the British Pushchair Association, said: "Our members strive to produce high quality, safe products that comply with all relevant industry standards whilst our customers accept the responsibility to safely operate and use those products according to the instructions and guidance. When we both do this successfully we create a safer environment for our children.The BPA would like to reiterate its full support for Maclaren following the recent media coverage."
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/nov/12/maclaren-pushchair-safety-kits
