Panda Mart Faces Shutdown in Victoria Over Product Safety Breaches
Synopsis
Consumer Affairs Victoria is seeking a court injunction to stop the discount retailer from trading at its two Melbourne stores, citing dangerous, incorrectly labelled and permanently banned products.
Panda Mart Victoria has had its retail operations shut down following the intensifying of legal actions against it on the grounds of an application to the Supreme Court by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
In the application for an injunction filed in the Supreme Court on August 7, it was stated that the two stores should remain closed until Panda Mart satisfies specific product safety and requirements conditions. During the course of their inspections this year, authorities unearthed goods that were meant to be banned, mislabeled, or unsafe.
Among the items that were labeled unsafe were glowing keychains that had insecure button batteries, perfumed candles with easily detachable decorations that may catch fire, and portable pools and floats that lacked warning stickers.
The suggested closure of Panda Mart Victoria would require the firm to notify its patrons through its website, social media, and company stores. Additionally, Consumer Affairs Victoria will be authorized to remove and destroy illicit, hazardous, and mislabeled goods.
Earlier enforcement action
This is the latest sequence of Panda Mart product safety enforcement actions initiated by Victorian authorities. In March 2025 and March 2026, Consumer Affairs Victoria released public notices concerning the results of investigations done on dangerous goods in the retail chain.
In December 2025, an urgent injunction was granted to halt the business’s operations in Cranbourne and Preston for three days after the discovery of hundreds of illicit commodities.
There were 147 counts of criminal offenses alleged to have been committed by the Cranbourne Panda Mart in January 2026. In the wake of the 1,000s of items recalled from the business in March 2025, these charges were brought, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Authorities have been uncovering hazardous commodities even after the December 2025 intervention, according to a public notice issued in March 2026. Businesses must guarantee that the goods they deal in conform to Australian safety standards, the notice stated.
According to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, Nicole Rich, Panda Mart Victoria is not authorized to continue conducting business since they have failed to meet their responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law.
If the Panda Mart injunction application is granted, employees will have to undergo product safety training, and a formal compliance program will have to be implemented before any of the impacted outlets can reopen. The hearing for the application is scheduled to take place in September.
Source: Smart Company
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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