In Australia, one child a month is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting a button battery and the ACCC has identified a number of ways to protect your family. The ACCC is also encouraging suppliers to comply with the new requirements on button batteries as soon as possible and has developed A Guide for Business on the Application of Mandatory Standards. The purpose of this guide is to assist suppliers in understanding the requirements for secure battery compartments, child resistant packaging, and warnings and information. A fact sheet summarises the requirements of the new standards.
“Most households have products that contain button/coin batteries ranging from remote controls and watches to musical greetings cards, and the legislation together with the proposed standard will be important in promoting consumer awareness and safety” said John Furbank, Consumers Federation of Australia representative on Standards Australia Technical Committee CS-118 Button Batteries. The committee is developing a national standard aligning with the ACCC regulations.
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