Baby products removed from sale after online sweep by consumer protection watchdog

Baby products including walkers and carriers have been removed from sale online in Ireland following a product safety sweep led by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Picture: iStock 

Baby products including walkers and carriers have been removed from sale online in Ireland following a product safety sweep led by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

The EU-wide online sweep conducted under new product safety laws has led to the removal of 252 baby product listings from online marketplaces, with 72 (29%) of the orders issued by Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

The investigation targeted 47 online marketplaces reviewing 1,741 listings in April and May. This followed the introduction of new product safety legislation in December 2024. 

The investigation issued 252 takedown orders regarding listings that failed to meet minimum safety and compliance information requirements or featured products that had already been recalled from the market. Ireland's CCPC issued 72 of the EU’s 252 takedown orders, targeting baby carriers, slings, and baby walkers. All 72 listings were removed from Amazon, Shein, Etsy, eBay, Fruugo, and Joom in response to the CCPC’s requests.

Officers analysed the listings for compliance with minimum product safety information rules, which require clear details of the manufacturer and EU responsible person to be displayed. This information is crucial for the protection of babies and children from dangerous or faulty products.

“Many parents turn to online marketplaces for convenience when buying baby products, and they deserve to know that the item is safe. Our product safety officers issue recalls for tens of thousands of items every year and traceability is critically important. Online marketplaces have a duty to be transparent about what they’re selling and provide contact details in the event a product is unsafe," said  CCPC chair Brian McHugh. 

“We’re pleased that the online marketplaces co-operated when we contacted them, and the listings were taken down promptly. The work of our officers, in collaboration with colleagues across EU, has stopped hundreds of potentially unsafe products being offered for sale to Irish consumers.”