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E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or power cord that’s no longer working or wanted. It covers a whole range of items from phones and refrigerators to fluorescent light tubes and is growing faster than any other waste stream. E-waste can cause serious environmental problems due to toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and…
Read More E-waste – what’s being done about it
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A new mandatory safety standard for portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers, published today, will improve existing performance and identification requirements, to reduce the risk of a fire extinguisher not operating correctly during a fire. This is a media release from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). It was originally published on 20th December, 2021. The new standard, issued…
Read More New safety standard for portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers
International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December, the theme for 2021 is Volunteer now for our common future. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) thanks and acknowledges the CFA representatives for their valuable contribution to the standards development committees as part of the CFA Standards Project. The CFA…
Read More International Volunteer Day – 5 December 2021
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The Treasury has released the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS): Supporting business through improvements to mandatory standards regulation under the Australian Consumer Law. The CRIS considers options to improve the regulatory framework for mandatory standards under the Australian Consumer Law with a focus on minimising compliance costs for business while maintaining consumer protections. Treasury is seeking feedback on…
Read More Supporting business through improvements to mandatory standards regulation under Australia Consumer Law – Feedback invited
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Energy rating labels provide consumers with information on the energy efficiency of a range of appliances including dishwashers and clothes dryers. High levels of performance, energy efficiency and water efficiency (where applicable) are priorities when purchasing electric dishwashers and rotary clothes dryers and included in the recently amended standards (AS/NZS 2007.1:2021 and AS/NZS 2442.1:2021). Consumers’ Federation of Australia…
Read More How efficient is your dishwasher, and clothes dryer?
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Whistleblowers play an important role in identifying and calling out misconduct and harm to consumers and the community. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) identifies the obligations of companies under the Corporations Act if they receive a report from a whistleblower and the requirement to have a whistleblowing policy. Whistleblowing processes – or systems for encouraging…
Read More Why do we need a whistleblowing management system?
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The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is proposing to update the energy efficiency provisions for residential buildings in the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). The proposed provisions are included in stage 2 of the NCC 2022 public comment draft (PCD). This is a consultation from the Australian Building Codes Board. It was originally published on…
Read More Consultation Regulation Impact Statement closing soon
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The National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) report on retailer compliance in 2020-21 reveals that 88% of fruit and vegetable retailers, 42% of meat, fish and poultry retailers, and 25% of supermarkets were not complying with their legal requirements when audited during a concentrated period during the year. Much of this post is taken from a media release by Queensland…
Read More Report finds many food retailers not complying with weights and measures laws
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Australians are urged to take simple steps to better protect themselves from common online threats and cybercrime during Cyber Security Awareness Month over October. The 2021 theme is: “Do your Part. #BeCyberSmart” read more here, where you can view the Personal Cyber Security Series, How to Use the Internet Securely – A Guide for Seniors, and other cyber…
Read More Cybersecurity Awareness Month “Do your part.”#BeCyberSmart
“The intense battle against a persistent global pandemic revealed the absolute necessity of addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals in an inclusive way, to strengthen our societies, making them more resilient and more equitable” read more here. In this pursuit standards are more relevant than ever. On World Standards Day, CFA takes the opportunity to thank the CFA Standards Representatives…
Read More World Standards Day 14 October 2021 “Shared vision for a better world”
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The revised national standard on drinking water treatment systems meets WaterMark product certification which protects community health and safety, and guarantees to be suitable for use by you, your family, and your friends. Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) supports a representative to participate on the Standards Australia Technical Committee WS-027 Domestic water treatment applications which revised the Australian Standard…
Read More Drinking water treatment systems – does it have a WaterMark?
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We are waking up to the fact that no domain – from healthcare, to entertainment, to business, technology, or the built environment – will be unaltered by the permanent, global and unprecedented phenomenon of population ageing, read more here. Research in the UK shows a clear appetite among the public for a new way of talking about…
Read More Growing old is a lifelong process – International Day of Older Persons 1 October 2021
