Food, Health and Product Safety Archives - Page 22 of 46

28 May , 2019

Check the safety of electrical products – does it have this mark?

Consumers have a right to be electrically safe when they buy electrical products, despite the enormous growth in online stores. Tested and compliant products would have this RCM mark on them, giving assurance that they meet Australian standards. The recent ruling where a importer and online seller was fined $1.2 million is a stark reminder…

14 May , 2019

Importers of electrical equipment are responsible for the safety of their product

Two years after a woman was electrocuted by a submersible pump in the backyard well of a Townsville home, the importer and online seller of the pump has been fined $1.2 million for failing to meet his obligations under electrical safety laws. Zoran Kacavenda, sole director of online business the Pump Factory Pty Ltd pleaded…

1 May , 2019

When a product presents a safety risk

If a product is found to present a safety risk, it may need to be recalled. Recalling products identified as safety hazards can help prevent injuries to consumers. Recalled products may be entitled to repair, replacement or a total refund. Here is the current list of recalls. The ACCC product safety recall process involves: stopping…

3 April , 2019

Coalition issues button battery safety alert

The Morrison Government has issued a safety warning notice to the public regarding risks associated with button batteries. Button batteries, also known as coin cell batteries, are flat, round, single cell batteries, used in a broad range of personal and household products such as children’s toys, hearing aids, watches, remote controls, digital thermometers and bathroom…

2 April , 2019

Safety warning on open flued gas space heaters

NSW Fair Trading has issued a public warning to consumers who own any of the following four identified heater models: Regency i31 supplied by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd Regency F38 and FG38 supplied by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd and the F38 and FG38 models branded and supplied by Masport prior to 2006 (excluding…

19 March , 2019

Button battery safety failures

CHOICE says children’s lives are being jeopardised by business ignoring button battery risk, and are calling for an overhaul of product safety laws in the wake of recent tests which show manufacturers and retailers are ignoring safety risks posed by button battery powered items. “10 out of 17 button battery powered household items failed CHOICE…

18 March , 2019

Unsafe goods should be illegal to sell

There should be a law in Australia prohibiting the sale of unsafe goods, ACCC Chair Rod Sims told the National Consumer Congress in Melbourne last week. Using new data the ACCC estimates the annual cost of injury and death caused by unsafe consumer products is at least $5 billion and could be much more. Excluding motor vehicle…

13 February , 2019

Biggest overhaul of building laws in NSW history

New home owners in NSW will be better protected after the NSW Government announced strong plans to improve the building and construction industry. Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the plan, which includes appointing a Building Commissioner, has been months in the making, after the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) commissioned an independent report into…

24 January , 2019

Consultation: Meaning of ‘unsafe’ and ‘reasonable durability’ in Australian Consumer Law

Consumer Affairs Australia New Zealand (CAANZ) are consulting on the meaning of ‘unsafe’ and ‘reasonable durability’ contained in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) consumer guarantees. This follows a recommendation of the 2017 Final Report of the Review of the ACL – the review found that the lack of clarity of the meaning of ‘unsafe’ and…

19 December , 2018

Only 1 in 4 say their homes are energy efficient

Energy Consumers Australia has released new data that underlines the important opportunity for improving housing quality as a way to tackle high energy bills. Many Australian homes are expensive to heat or to cool because they are poorly insulated, a problem which is often worse for renters. Not only does this make energy unaffordable for…

12 December , 2018

Parents warned: 18 products fail CHOICE pram test

CHOICE has published the details of 18 products that failed the CHOICE pram test, warning Australian parents to watch out. The CHOICE pram test looked at 46 prams and strollers and failed 18 of them, with particular concerns regarding strangulation hazards with buckles and straps. The CHOICE review of the pram market follows poor scores…

4 December , 2018

New standard to help minimise risks at trampoline parks

The trampoline park industry in Australia has grown from a few centres in 2012 to over 80 open today. With this increase in popularity comes a higher chance of injury, and a greater role for standards to play in minimising risks that might lead to such injuries. Read more here Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) representative…