The Australian Competitions and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has joined with the European Commission and 24 other countries in a concerted effort to reduce the number of unsafe consumer products being sold online.
Deputy Chair of the ACCC, Delia Rickard said cross-border transactions were becoming more common, and in 2017 Australians bought an estimated $21.3 billion worth of products online.
“All products sold in Australia must comply with Australian product safety laws whether bought in a local store or online from overseas,” Ms Rickard said.
She said the global campaign aimed to highlight the importance of suppliers and online retailers being aware of the product safety rules and regulations in different countries.
“Under Australian Consumer Law, anyone selling products to Australian consumers must ensure their products aren’t banned here and that they meet Australia’s 42 mandatory safety standards, no matter where they are located in the world,” Ms Rickard said.
She urged consumers to do their research before purchasing items online.
“Online shoppers are particularly exposed to injury or illness risks because they cannot physically examine products and their labelling as they would when shopping in store,” Ms Rickard said.
“People should check online ratings and reviews, which may indicate any safety issues other consumers have experienced.”
She said the ACCC had been working proactively with a number of online selling platforms such as eBay, Etsy, AliExpress, Gumtree, and Catch.com.au to improve product safety compliance in the online marketplace.
