Published
NSW Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts today welcomed a new national product safety guide that will help businesses identify potentially dangerous or banned products and ensure all products meet national mandatory safety standards.
Mr Roberts said the Product safety guide for business informs traders including discount variety stores, ‘two dollar shops’, weekend market traders and retailers of baby goods and toys about their responsibilities under Australia’s national product safety laws.
“The guide is published in English, Vietnamese and Chinese and features photographs of many of the currently banned products,” he said.
“It provides critical information about the sale of banned items and mandatory standards in a range of categories including baby products, clothing, confectionery, furniture, swimming pools, toys and vehicles.”
To download or order the guide visit the NSW Fair Trading website or productsafety.gov.au or call the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502. Businesses can also register for email alerts on future bans and standards at productsafety.gov.au or at recalls.gov.au for email alerts on product recalls.
Mr Roberts said the onus is on all businesses, including retailers and wholesalers, to ensure the products they sell comply with national product safety laws.
“There are significant penalties for selling banned or non-compliant goods. Traders caught breaching the mandatory Australian Standard face fines of up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals.”
Mr Roberts said NSW Fair Trading regularly inspects the marketplace to ensure businesses are supplying safe and well constructed goods.
“In 2011/12 Fair Trading removed 117 unsafe children’s toys and other products from sale,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of every supplier to ensure goods comply with relevant safety standards and do not pose an injury risk to consumers. The Australian Consumer Law prohibits the supply of goods that do not comply with mandatory safety standards.”
Mr Roberts said businesses should not assume that imported products have been checked for compliance with Australia’s product safety laws, even if they have been cleared by Australian Customs.
“Products sold in Australia must comply with Australian standards,” he said.
The Product safety guide for business has been developed in partnership between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory consumer protection agencies.
Contact details
General inquiries
Call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or visit the NSW Fair Trading website: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au