The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its product safety priorities for the year ahead, focussing on issues affecting young children and reducing battery dangers.
Speaking at her first National Consumer Congress as Chair of the ACCC, Gina Cass-Gottlieb unveiled the Commission’s seven product safety priorities for 2022-23.
“Young children are among our most vulnerable users of consumer products and their safety is paramount,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“We will focus on various hazards, including small high-powered magnets, baby dummies and chains, sleep aids and toys for children under three.”
She renewed the ACCC’s commitment to product safety for infant inclined sleep products and toppling furniture.
“Baby bouncers, rockers and other sleep accessories that are inclined can be potentially deadly for infants, and the public health advice remains for infants to sleep on a flat, firm surface without pillows or bumpers,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“There are currently no mandatory or voluntary standards in Australia that specifically apply to infant inclined products,” the ACCC Chair said.
“This year we will be seeking feedback on possible regulatory intervention.”
Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC plans to conduct a study to identify product safety hazards linked with lithium-ion batteries following an increase in reports of fires and injuries related to lithium-ion battery powered goods such as mobile phones, smart watches, laptops, solar energy systems and e-scooters.
She said a new priority for the ACCC was improving the mandatory standards framework by implementing reforms that made it easier to adopt trusted overseas standards here in Australia.
“Button batteries will remain a priority, as the ACCC shifts its focus to enforcing the new world-leading mandatory safety standards that come into effect on 22 June 2022.”
Outlining her vision for protecting consumers, Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC was particularly concerned with scams, greenwashing and sustainability claims by businesses, misconduct by digital platforms, and unfair trade practices that targeted or disproportionately affected consumers experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.
“We will closely scrutinise businesses that make environmental or sustainability claims about their products, services or operations,” she said
“We will continue to seek significant and increasing enforcement penalties against businesses for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.”
Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC would also continue to seek consumer redress to ensure businesses were compensated consumers directly when they were harmed.
Further information on the ACCC’s product safety priorities can be accessed on its nine-page 2022–23 Product Safety Priorities booklet at this PS News link.
