Food, Health and Product Safety

Person comforting another who is in bed Person comforting another who is in bed

Customers needing life support equipment – such as kidney dialysis machines – will find it easier and cheaper to shop around for better energy deals under a new rule announced by the Australian Energy Market Commission. This is an AEMC media release, originally published on the 25th February, 2021. The change to the National Energy…

Read More New rule helps life support customers switch and save on energy plans

Bananas on a supermarket shelf Bananas on a supermarket shelf

A Consultation Paper on Aspirations for the Food Regulatory System was released in November 2020 by consultants on behalf of the Food Regulation Standing Committee. The Paper is available here . It is one of the interconnected projects that are part of the food regulation reform program initiated by the Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum…

Read More CFA Responds to Consultation Paper on Aspirations for the Food Regulatory System

A gold watch on a table with button batteries scattered around the watch A gold watch on a table with button batteries scattered around the watch

New mandatory safety and information standards around the supply of button batteries and consumer goods containing them came into effect on 22 December 2020. This is an Office of Fair Trading Qld Media Release Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said these new mandatory safety and information standards are overdue as too many children are…

Read More Fair Trading welcomes new button battery mandatory standards

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Under certain circumstances, open flued gas space heaters pose a risk of releasing unhealthy and sometimes lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide into buildings. Malfunctioning, poorly or infrequently serviced open flued gas space heaters in residential settings have resulted in the deaths of three Victorians since 2010. Your views are being sought on the Regulatory Impact…

Read More Phase out of open flued gas space heaters — have your say

Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store

CFA’s recent submission on a consultation paper prepared by consultants on the Consistency of Food Regulatory Approaches in Australia and New Zealand identified labelling, food medicine, and health claims as the main areas of inconsistency. The submission included the following points: Labelling: The present requirements provide great scope for between jurisdiction inconsistencies in the assessment…

Read More CFA Submission on Consistency of Food Regulation

Small round disk batteries in green and black cardboard packaging that says 'GP Lithium' Small round disk batteries in green and black cardboard packaging that says 'GP Lithium'

The Morrison Government is delivering on its commitment to improve the safety of button batteries with the introduction of new mandatory safety and information standards to help protect Australian children. This is a media release by the Hon Michael Sukkar MP In Australia three children have died from injuries sustained as a result of swallowing…

Read More Mandatory improvement to button battery safety to save lives

Close up image of strawberries Close up image of strawberries

Consultations are currently occurring on two more phases of the major review of the food regulation system that operates in Australia and New Zealand. Stakeholder views are being sought on consultation papers prepared by consultants on: Consistency of food regulatory approaches (responses due by 18 December) Aspirations for the food regulatory system (responses due by…

Read More More opportunities to participate in the review of the food regulation system

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Insurers have paid out $500 million less in hospital and extras benefits in 2019-20 compared to the previous year, the latest ACCC annual report into the private health insurance industry has found. This is an ACCC Media Release. The reduced benefit payout was the result of government-imposed restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited non-urgent…

Read More Health funds pay policyholders $500 million less due to COVID-19

and hand pumping hand sanitiser from a bottle and hand pumping hand sanitiser from a bottle

The following is a media release by the Hon Michael Sukkar MP: Consumers will be able to better identify the effectiveness of different hand sanitiser products under new laws designed to help Australians stay COVIDsafe. The Morrison Government has accepted the recommendations of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that requires hand sanitiser manufactures…

Read More Better hand sanitiser information to keep COVIDsafe

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Four of Australia’s largest e-commerce businesses have confirmed their commitment to protecting consumers from unsafe goods online after signing on to a new product safety pledge. The following is a media release by the ACCC. The Australian Product Safety Pledge launched today, is a voluntary initiative that commits its signatories to a range of safety related responsibilities…

Read More E-commerce businesses pledge to strengthen product safety online

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CFA has provided written feedback, and participated in online workshops, on a Scoping Paper produced by consultants as part of the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The Act is one of the main pieces of legislation and agreements that make up the joint food regulatory system that operates in Australia…

Read More CFA gives feedback to the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991

Two people on a quad bike Two people on a quad bike

On Friday, CFA hosted its Consumer Advocacy Soapbox Session, celebrating the best consumer advocacy campaigns over 2019–20. The Soapbox Session was initially part of the National Consumer Congress, which was to be in March. With the support of the ACCC, CFA moved the Session online. The winner of the Award was Raphael Grzebieta from the…

Read More CFA Soapbox Prizewinner — Quad Bike Performance Project