Product recalls for the 2015 – 2016 financial year were up by 14 per cent, a trend the ACCC called “concerning”.
Fairfax reports that the most recalled category was cars, with 182. Other categories that saw an increased number of recalls include food and grocery (123, up from 71) and hobby, sport and recreation (79, up from 44). The last category included 20 so-called hoverboards (see picture) which were troubled by combustion issues.
Overall, there were 670 recalls, up from 596 the previous year.
Deputy chair of the ACC, Delia Rickard, said the rise in recalls for the year was “concerning”.
“Recalls have been trending up every year for the last five years,” the ABC quotes her as saying.
“More and more, we are seeing suppliers seeking to keep costs down, sourcing from overseas countries without having direct oversight of every step of the supply chain.”