Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing
Warehouse retailer Panda Mart will face 147 criminal charges for offering unsafe products for sale to Victorian consumers.
The criminal proceedings follow Consumer Affairs Victoria’s actions to remove thousands of unsafe products from Panda Mart’s shelves in March 2025.
Consumer Affairs Victoria alleges that Panda Mart Trading Pty Ltd (ACN 678 461 222), which operates the Cranbourne store, offered multiple products that did not comply with mandatory safety and information standards, including:
- toy projectile guns and archery kits missing warning information about hazards that can cause serious eye damage
- baby strollers and walkers missing warning information about hazards that can cause death or serious injury
- hydraulic trolley jacks missing warning information about improper use
- bicycle helmets missing warning information about improper fit and use
- elastic luggage straps (octopus straps or bungee cords) missing warning information about hazards that can cause blindness
- children’s dress up and cosmetics items missing ingredient labelling about allergies and irritants
- children’s toys, calculators, greeting cards and kitchen products like scales and thermometers containing unsecure and unlabelled button batteries
The retailer has also been charged with offering yo-yo water balls for sale, which are permanently banned in Australia because of the serious risk of strangulation.
The company faces maximum penalties of $50 million or more per charge under Australian Consumer Law.
The charges come after Consumer Affairs Victoria issued a public warning to consumers in March 2025 over products offered for sale at the Cranbourne store.
In December 2025, Consumer Affairs Victoria obtained an urgent court injunction to close Panda Mart Cranbourne and Panda Mart Preston – which are owned by different companies – for up to 72 hours while inspectors seized thousands more products.
Consumer Affairs Victoria Director Nicole Rich said product safety breaches were some of the most serious offences under the Australian Consumer Law.
‘Australia’s consumer product safety laws are not optional. It is the legal obligation of every business operating in Victoria to understand and comply with mandatory safety rules.
‘We will continue to take strong action wherever required to remove unsafe consumer products from sale and protect Victorians, especially our most vulnerable community members like children,’ Rich said.
Panda Mart Cranbourne will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 6 February.
The investigation into Panda Mart Preston is ongoing.
Learn more in the Product safety section of our website.
