PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT



Regarding the frequent questions of the media related to SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo baby slings, produced by Infantino from the United States, which are being withdrawn from the market of the USA and Canada for safety reasons, Market Surveillance Agency of BiH issues the following announcement:

Market Surveillance Agency of BiH found out about the voluntary replacement program for the affected baby slings, published on March 24th 2010, on the website of the manufacturer Infantino (www.infantino.com)and the website of The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov), which initiated this case. According to CPSC and Infantino, the slings can pose two different types of suffocation risks to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. According to the manufacturer's statement, one million of these infant slings are being recalled in the United States and 15,000 are being recalled in Canada.

By today, no member state has sent a notification of the dangers related to this product or the product withdrawal from the EU market to the Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products (RAPEX).

Based on preliminary checkout of economic operators that sell childcare articles and children’s equipment in the area of BiH, we were informed that the affected product is not available on the BiH market. However, the inspections shall be performed in retail stores, and if the affected products are found, they will be withdrawn from the BiH market.

Affected product images: