Maclaren stroller recall extended to Canada
Last Updated: Friday, November 13, 2009 | 4:22 PM ET
CBC News
Maclaren extended into Canada a recall for all strollers made between January 2004 and November 2009. (Health Canada)Health Canada has followed the lead of U.S. regulators and urged the recall of Maclaren strollers after reports that 15 children in the U.S. and one in Canada had their fingertips cut by the stroller's folding mechanism.
However, the Canadian importer of Maclaren strollers questions why Maclaren has been targeted when almost every type of folding stroller uses the same type of hinge and has the same risk.
"I would like to know why Maclaren is the only one targeted," said Sam Perez, chief executive of Hamilton, Ont.,-based Kushies Inc. "If you're going to fold a stroller, they're going to have a similar hinge. All of them fold and the possibility of a child getting hurt is the same."
"With respect to consumers, there is a lot of situations in life where if you don't pay attention, something could happen," said Perez.
The lone Canadian case happened 18 months ago and involved a 3.5-year-old girl who climbed frontways into the stroller before her mother had a chance to lock it into place. The girl had put her hands on the two front bars to steady herself and her fingers were lacerated by the hinge, said Perez.
The girl's mother did not make an official complaint at the time and only contacted Kushies after she heard about the U.S. recall, he said.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for more than million Maclaren umbrella-style strollers sold in the U.S.
The Health Canada recall involves all single and double strollers by Maclaren, including the following models: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller.
About 22,000 of the recalled strollers were sold at The Bay, Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, some Gap Canada stores and many independent retailers between January 2004 and November 2009.
The remedy is a fabric sleeve that parents and caregivers can fit over the hinge mechanism. Perez said he expects a shipment to arrive next week.
"This little sleeve will make a big difference," said Perez.
When the Maclaren stroller was introduced to the Canadian market 10 or 15 years ago, Perez said it had to pass a battery of tests conducted by both Transport Canada and Health Canada, plus about 12 other standards.
Testing a stroller for the Canadian market could cost a manufacturer up to $100,000, he estimated.
Kushies is doing everything it can to accommodate consumer needs, but Perez questioned why the recall only involved Maclaren strollers in the U.S. and Canada when they're sold in 75 countries around the world.
"People are asking, 'What's going on? Are American babies more valuable?' But Maclaren's response is that there haven't been any reports of injuries," said Perez.
