POTENTIAL problems with the harness adjustment in some Britax Freeway child car seats have prompted the British company to recall the product around the world and offer buyers replacements. To keep up its safety reputation, Britax Excelsior Limited had offered to give all users of the Freeway an updated model through its local supplier, Tots Trading, the company said in a statement. Regarded as top of the range, the car seats retail in Hongkong for $2,200 each through Tots Trading. The decision to recall the product came after continuous tests in the Britax laboratories indicated the possibility of limited slippage in the harness adjuster after two or three years. Britax Excelsior managing director Ms Margaret Maguire said there was no immediate risk as none of the products on the market had reached that age. The oldest car seat on the market was only 18 months old and those sold here were even newer, she said. ''The action we are taking is a precautionary one against the possibility of a longer term problem.'' She stressed that the tests to which the car seats had been subjected were stringent and the recall was the first the company had had to do. The owner of Tots Trading, Mrs Marcia Webster, said Britax's reputation was based on quality and high safety standards. ''They are meant to be the best - that is why they are behaving very honourably and replacing them even though some were sold quite a long time ago. ''Their whole emphasis is on safety. According to their press release, it has only been a minor problem but they would rather err on the side of caution.'' Despite the recall, until replacement seats have been delivered Britax has advised people to continue using the Freeway seats for car journeys. Mrs Webster said she had never had any complaints from customers who had bought the car seats. She said she was not worried about the inconvenience of having to recall products. ''It doesn't worry me. We pride ourselves on providing high quality goods. It is more important to recall something that is potentially faulty than to let it go.'' Mrs Webster, who originally imported about 15 car seats, said she had contacted all the customers for whom she had an address. Those who did not buy them through Tots Trading were still welcome to contact her, so the seats could be exchanged, she added. Tots Trading needs the batch and serial number of the Freeway and the customer's name and address. The company can be contacted on 576-8623. Ms Maguire said Tots Trading was the only Britax supplier in Hongkong. No other Britax products are affected. In the UK, Britax's largest market, the company has to recall about 28,000 seats.
