The Commerce Commission has put retailers on notice that product safety is non-negotiable.
ComCom has taken PD Mart (formerly known as Panda Mart), which operates two variety retail stores offering products at low price points, to court after repeatedly finding a wide range of non-compliant products offered for sale across both its Auckland and Christchurch stores, including products intended for young children.
General Manager, Competition and Fair Trading, Rebecca McAtamney, said that consumers shouldn't have to choose between price and safety.
“Regardless of what something costs or what shop you buy it from, businesses must comply with the New Zealand product safety requirements that apply to the goods they sell.”
The Commission alleged that PD Mart offered 57 different non-compliant products for sale, including children’s toys and baby walkers, and represented seven types of children’s car seats as complying with an international safety standard when the Commission alleges they did not.
“Product safety standards exist for a reason. When you walk into a shop and buy a product for your family, particularly a product designed for a child, you should be able to trust that the retailer has done the work needed to make sure it complies with New Zealand’s safety requirements,” said McAtamney.
“In this case, selling products that don’t meet those standards puts New Zealand consumers, particularly young children, at risk.”
The Commission's concerns did not arise from a single visit or isolated incident. From October 2024, Commission staff repeatedly visited PD Mart’s stores and allegedly found non-compliant goods on multiple visits.
During the Commission’s investigation, PD Mart recalled and removed potentially unsafe products, including children’s toys, baby rattles, bikes and baby walkers.
In September 2025, the Commission issued PD Mart a Stop Now letter over safety concerns involving children’s car seats.
Further action followed in 2026, when PD Mart gave court-enforceable undertakings to withdraw certain non-compliant products from sale and agreed not to sell products in categories where the Commission had identified concerns, for at least six months.
“It’s the scale and recurring nature of the issues we identified that are a serious concern for the Commission.”
The Commission alleged PD Mart lacked adequate systems, policies and processes to meet its obligations, and that staff were not adequately trained. It will also allege PD Mart misrepresented customers' ability to return products under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
“Selling affordable products doesn’t mean retailers can cut corners on safety. They have a responsibility to comply with the law and invest adequately in the systems, processes and staff training needed to meet their legal obligations,” McAtamney added.
“Consumers have rights when they buy products in New Zealand, and businesses need to understand those rights and meet their obligations.”
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