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Electricity is something we all use every day and take for granted. But according to Safe Work Australia risk of death or injury from electricity is strongly linked to where and how it is used. Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) supports representatives to Standards Australia Technical Committees working on the development of electrical energy standards and ensuring the consumer…
Read More Safety and electricity
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The United Nations encourages worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) has identified the environmental impact of services and products as a priority for participation on Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project. CFA representatives are involved in standards development on Biodiversity and other environmental issues such as Environmental Management,…
Read More World Environment Day – 5th June 2021
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Wireless networks have enabled the Internet of Things (IoT) to connect the billions of physical devices around the world to the internet, enabling them to communicate real-time data without involving a human being. Consumers Federation of Australia is supporting a representative to participate on the Standards Australia Technical Committee on IoT, to bring the consumer perspective to…
Read More Confused about IoT terminology?
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Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) depends on the volunteers who represent CFA on Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project and on a range of Government and Industry bodies. During National Volunteer Week, CFA acknowledges their contribution and thanks them for their commitment and hard work in supporting the interests of consumers. The theme for…
Read More National Volunteer Week
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There are a number of facilities with summer toboggan runs operating in Australia. Summer toboggans are an amusement or recreational ride which uses a sled or cart to run down a track usually built on the side of a hill. The type of track, safety features, speed and layout vary. The two new standards open…
Read More Public comment invited on draft standards for summer toboggan runs
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Involved in any building works? The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the minimum requirements and provides uniform technical standards for design and construction of new building work (including in existing buildings), plumbing and drainage across all Australian States and Territories. A FREE copy of the NCC is available here. NCC Volume 2 contains the requirements for residential and non-habitable…
Read More Involved in building works – What does the National Construction Code mean?
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As online shopping becomes the new norm consumers should be aware of the product safety risks in the online marketplace. According to the OECD Global Awareness Campaign toys and games are one of the most recalled products and may pose serious safety risks to consumers, accounting for over 20% of recall notices published. The ACCC is co-leading the OECD Global…
Read More Shop safely online for toys and games
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Most plastics are made to be used once before being discarded and consumer awareness of the plastics crisis is growing around the world. On average, Australians use 130 kg of plastic per person each year and up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into our waterways and into the ocean. The good news is…
Read More World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021) ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’
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The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has been amended to introduce new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food. The changes will make allergen information on food labels clearer and more consistent for consumers by requiring simple, plain English allergen declarations in a specific format and location on food labels. The key features…
Read More New requirements for labelling of allergens on packaged foods
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Women are widely under-represented in developing the standards that affect so many areas of our lives, from the products we consume every day to the technologies needed to address a wide range of sustainability challenges. Many of these standards do not adequately address how women and men may be affected differently, for example ill-fitting personal protective…
Read More Women in standards development – International Women’s Day 2021 March 8 “Choose to challenge”
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Australia’s Energy Star Rating scheme provides consumers with useful information about the relative energy efficiency of a product. The more stars a product gets, the more energy efficient it is compared to other models of the same size or capacity. The energy star rating of an appliance is determined by its energy consumption, using the relevant Australian Standard for measuring energy consumption…
Read More Public comment invited on updates of the energy efficiency labelling requirements for dishwashers and dryers
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Electric vehicles (that use minimal to no fuel) are becoming more popular and Australian consumers need to feel confident electric transportation will meet the challenges facing the Australian landscape, such as the size of our county or capability of our electricity grid. According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Market Study Report Electric Vehicles (EVs) are expected to…
Read More Why an electric vehicle?
