Illegal car seats still being sold by major online marketplaces, investigation finds

"Illegal car seats that pose potentially lethal risks to young children are being widely sold despite being identified over a decade ago, a new investigation has revealed. Online marketplaces including eBay, Shein, Little Dreams, ManoMano, and Wish all had listings for the illegal seats, consumer champion Which? found, over ten years after its first investigation into the issue. These seats are cheaply made, often not complying with UK safety regulations and are therefore illegal to sell in the country."

"Issues include thin seats, which do not raise the child's height enough, and no central release function to easily remove them in case of a crash. Many of the offending products also have no side impact protection, required to prevent the child's head from hitting the side of the car. This safety feature can be life-saving, preventing head trauma in the event of a crash."

Illegal children's car seats that fail to meet UK safety regulations continue to be widely sold on online marketplaces such as eBay, Shein, Little Dreams, ManoMano and Wish. These cheaply made knock-offs are illegal to sell because they often lack required features, including sufficient seat height, a central release mechanism for swift removal after a crash, and side impact protection that prevents a child's head striking the car side. Which? found listings for the seats more than ten years after the problem was first exposed, and a 2014 Britax demonstration of a 30mph impact highlighted the potentially lethal consequences.

Read at www.independent.co.uk