• The Trade Inspection Authority examined the safety of high chairs for children.
• It had reservations about approximately 40% of them.
• Good news for parents – the irregularities pertained only to the marking.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Trade Inspection Authority carried out an audit of the safety of high chairs (used mainly at the table, for feeding). It covered 36 undertakings, including wholesalers, shops and supermarkets, manufacturers and importers.

The auditors checked 113 product batches and impugned 46 of them, i.e. slightly more than 40% (40.71%). Only 4 of the impugned batches were made in Poland, the rest came from abroad (including other EU countries). However, in no case did the inspectors find any structural defects – all of the irregularities pertained to the marking only.

The most common errors were deficiencies in the user manual (32 batches) and absence of a warning reading “Never leave the child unattended” on the product (10 batches). Moreover, in some cases there was no manual in Polish, no Polish markings directly on the chair; there was also some divergence with regard to information about the child’s weight.

Irregularities were observed in the case of 21 undertakings. Many of them removed the irregularities while the audit was still under way. Some have halted sales until the marking has been corrected.

When buying a high chair:

• Check if it is stable on the floor, upright, does not wobble and the legs are even.
• Make sure that the child cannot access the mechanism which makes it possible to fold and unfold the chair.
• In the case of adjustable chairs, check if the lock fixing the seat in a high position switches on automatically.
• Check if there are no sharp edges and if all protruding elements have been rounded off.
• If the chair has wheels, at least two of them should be lockable.
• Check if the instructions and information necessary for safe use have been included.
• The product, packaging or manual should list the name and address of the manufacturer so you know who is responsible for the quality and safety.
• When in doubt at the shop, please contact the Trade Inspection Authority.

When using a high chair:

• Read the assembly, use and maintenance manual. Do not throw it out.
• Always fasten the safety system.
• Do not use the chair if it has been assembled incorrectly or damaged.
• Do not use the chair until the child is able to sit on their own.
• Never leave the child unattended.
• Regularly clean the chair and monitor its condition.

Consumer support:

Phone: +48 801 440 220 or +48 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
e-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer ombudsmen – in your town or district
Regional Consumer Centres: Phone: +48 22 299 60 90 – Dlakonsumenta.pl

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL