Standards Project News Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

9 May , 2025

Infringement notices issued for button battery information standard breaches

Australian fast-food franchise Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd has paid penalties totalling $150,240 after the ACCC issued it with eight infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law by failing to comply with the mandatory button battery information standard. The infringement notices relate to a Garfield toy powered by button batteries that was supplied…

30 April , 2025

Quantum computing vocabulary – Standard for use in all types of organisations

Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize fields from chemistry and logistics to finance and physics. This shift from the classical digital representation found in today’s conventional computers to a quantum digital representation in tomorrow’s computers is expected to bring increases in computing power and new, innovative software applications, allowing us to tackle more complex…

4 March , 2025

March 8th International Women’s Day 2025 ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.’

This year’s IWD theme calls for action For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation – particularly young women, and adolescent girls – as catalysts for…

3 March , 2025

Mould in buildings – New standard open for Public Comment

Recently Australia has experienced record-breaking rainfall and floods, generating the perfect storm for the spread of mould in water-damaged properties. Condensation in your home can cause damp, mould, and rot. This can cause rotting of building materials and, if mould spores become airborne indoors, harmful effects on human health. A new Draft Australian Standard AS-IICRC…

4 February , 2025

Cybersecurity – Safeguarding Australia’s future

Criminals commit cybercrime by using a computer or online network to target victims. Anyone can be a victim of cybercrime, from individuals and businesses to government, with far reaching consequences. On average, a new cybercrime incident is reported in Australia every six minutes. Ransomware alone results in up to $3 billion in annual damages to the Australian…

19 December , 2024

New Microplastics Standard Open for Comment

Microplastics are filling up our oceans, turning up everywhere from Antarctic ice sheets to the depths of ocean trenches. Unfortunately it is very hard to quantify the amount of microplastics entering our oceans, as these tiny particles are hard to track, what we do know is that any amount of these plastics can be dangerous…

17 December , 2024

Tracing Your Pets and Animals – Draft Open for Comment

Electronic identification tags for animals serve as a vital tool in managing pets and in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Electronic identification tags for animals are small (RFID) devices (microchips) with unique identification numbers that when implanted in dogs, cats or other pet animals are used to identify the animals, the owners, and the property address…

12 December , 2024

Bar and Accounting Professional Standards Schemes Open for Comment and Submissions

Public comment and submission is now open for the Victorian Bar, Western Australian Bar, and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand’s proposed Professional Standards Schemes. A professional standards scheme is a legal instrument that limits the occupational liability or damages that can be awarded against a member of the association to whom a scheme applies.…

4 December , 2024

International Volunteer Day – December 5 2024

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a global celebration highlighting the vital role volunteers play in addressing the world’s challenges and highlights the power of volunteering to strengthen communities and create positive change. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) uses the opportunity to acknowledge and shine a light on the important work of volunteers. CFA depends on the…

26 November , 2024

Child-Resistant Packaging – Draft Standard Open for Public Comment

Child-resistant packaging is used to create a physical barrier between a child and a potentially hazardous product. Various types of packaging are recognized as being child-resistant, based on performance testing against standards for specific product categories and packaging types. Since this type of packaging was introduced, the incidence of accidental ingestion of potentially hazardous products…

25 November , 2024

Greenhouses Gases Continue to Rise – 2023 the Warmest Year on Record

Global average concentrations of all major long-lived greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere, driving further climate change says a new report by CSIRO: State of the Climate. This eighth biennial State of the Climate report is a synthesis of the science that underpins our understanding of Australia’s climate. It is intended to inform…

7 November , 2024

NSW Lithium-Ion Battery Information Standard Feedback

The NSW Government is seeking feedback on a draft Information Standard for e-micromobility products under the Fair Trading Regulation 2019 (the Regulation). E-micromobility products include e-scooters, e-bikes, e-skateboards, self-balancing hoverboards and their associated chargers. The following documents are available for feedback: The Information Standard complements the product quality requirements that will be in place from next year. These controls aim to…