Australian mandatory safety and information standards for Button/coin Batteries Update from ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission)
From 22 June 2022 manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers of button/coin batteries or consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries supplied to Australia, must comply with the applicable Australian mandatory safety and information standards. Supplying or selling noncompliant products to consumers in Australia is illegal.
The problem If swallowed, a button/coin battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in catastrophic injuries and even death. Insertion of button/coin batteries into body orifices such as ears and noses can also lead to significant injuries.
In Australia three children have died and at least one child a month is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting a button/coin battery, with some of them sustaining lifelong injuries. Children can access button/coin batteries in a variety of ways, including:
- products with unsecure battery compartments button/coin battery packaging that is not child resistant
- poor quality products which release button/coin batteries when dropped or broken
- spare batteries being provided loose in product packaging
- spare batteries not being kept out of reach around the home
- used batteries not being properly disposed of
Regulatory action.
After extensive consultation, the ACCC developed mandatory safety and information standards to reduce the risk of injury and death to children from exposure to button/coin batteries. On 21 December 2020 the Federal Government made these standards into law. The standards include a transition period of 18 months and the requirements will become mandatory on 22 June 2022.
For more information
Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020
Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020
Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020
Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020