Panda Mart has reopened its Cranbourne store following a temporary court-ordered shutdown earlier last week.
Star News reported last week that Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) was granted a court injunction to stop local warehouse retail store Panda Mart from trading, after inspectors discovered hundreds of illegal items on the shelves of the Preston and Cranbourne stores.
The stores were ordered to close for 72 hours from Wednesday 10 December.
Panda Mart issued a statement at around 6pm on Friday 12 December, saying that they were now reopened, with a 20 per cent storewide discount to thank customers.
“To thank customers for their patience during a temporary closure this week, we will offer a 20 per cent storewide discount to customers tonight and over the weekend,” the statement writes.
“We also want to assure our customers that safety remains our highest priority, and we will continue to cooperate fully with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
“Panda Mart is committed to providing value and choice with around 35,000 different products at each store.”
In March, CAV Nicole Rich issued a public warning to consumers after thousands of products being sold at the Cranbourne store failed to meet mandatory product safety and information standards.
According to a media release from CAV, an inspection of both stores the week before last week identified several items of concern. These included banned candles with flammable contents next to the wick, toys with unsecured button batteries, choking hazards, and flotation devices without adequate warnings.
The injunction effectively closed both stores for 72 hours, while product safety inspectors conduct a full compliance inspection to identify, seize and remove non-compliant products from the shelves.
Rich said most items sold at the Preston store during inspections in September this year – after the warning about the Cranbourne store – met Australia’s product safety standards. However, the recent inspections of Panda Mart’s Cranbourne and Preston stores found shelves re-filled with non-compliant items.
“It’s particularly disappointing that Panda Mart appears to have gone from meeting their obligations to restocking their shelves with products that pose a serious danger to the public,” she said.
“These items are banned or heavily regulated for a reason. Flammable candles, button batteries, and toys with small parts that can cause choking are all known killers.”
The injunction highlights that the regulator will continue to pursue a range of enforcement options to protect Victorians.
“Every business is responsible for ensuring that the products they sell are safe. Being ignorant is no excuse,” Ms Rich said.
International retailer Panda Mart, which originated from South Africa more than a decade ago, operates two large-format discount retail stores across Victoria and has attracted strong customer interest since opening its Cranbourne outlet earlier this year.
