New Zealand consults on regulatory plans to address safety hazards of corded curtains for toddlers
G/TBT/N/NZL/120, 24 March 2023
Issued by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), New Zealand
Window coverings with loose operating cords, including roller blinds, concertina blinds, Roman blinds and Venetian blinds, create fatal strangulation risks for infants and toddlers. From 2012 to 2021, three children under 4 years old in New Zealand died from entanglement in curtain cords, equaling 0.12 fatalities per 100,000 children annually.
Young children cannot protect themselves independently from such hazards, so regulating corded window furnishings is defined as a top public safety priority. The 33-page consultation document puts forward four policy options for public feedback: full ban on corded window coverings, mandatory cord tension devices, compulsory compliance with international product safety standards, and enhanced warning labeling plus public education campaigns. Stakeholders were given 90 days to submit comments.