Standards Project News Archives - Page 9 of 34 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

10 June , 2022

Standards Australia NEXTgen program – Applications open

NEXTgen is a cost free 10-month professional development program designed to upskill your CV, increase your standards knowledge and make important industry connections. Participants will gain a detailed understanding into the world of standards – how they’re made, what impact they have, and most importantly, how to become involved in their development. If you have approx.…

20 May , 2022

CFA Seeks a Consumer Representative for the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Consumer and Public Health Dialogue (CPHD)

FSANZ is a statutory authority operating under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. FSANZ develops standards that regulate the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. The Food Standards Code also covers the composition of some foods, such as dairy, meat and beverages as well as foods developed by new…

17 May , 2022

Complaint’s handling standard a good outcome for consumers

Everybody has the right to complain which provides organisations with valuable feedback about what users dislike about a product or service. The revised Australian Standard guides organisations to manage their own complaints and enables consistency in the effective treatment of complaints, particularly in a global marketplace. Organizations should adopt a people-focused and proactive approach to…

16 May , 2022

National Volunteer Week 2022 “Better together”

Volunteering brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers, find out more here. Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) depends on the volunteers who represent CFA…

5 May , 2022

How do you service an Electric Car? – draft open for public comment

If you’re trying to understand electric and hybrid vehicles, what’s under the bonnet can be a bit of a mystery including the maintenance and servicing requirements, read more here. The revised draft standard AS 5732 Electrical vehicle operations – Maintenance and repair provides requirements and guidance on the safe and appropriate handling procedures for those within the mechanical…

28 March , 2022

Breath alcohol electronic testing devices for personal use – draft open for public comment

Driving while under the influence of alcohol affects perception, vision, concentration, reaction time and causes drowsiness – all of which increase the chances of having an accident. Consequences of drink driving include severe penalties, trauma, and death. Breath alcohol testing devices for personal use should be able to perform in a manner that allows the user to make…

25 March , 2022

Mandatory grocery unit pricing coming to India and New Zealand

The latest edition of the Queensland Consumers Association’s (QCA) newsletter Unit Pricing Global Update reports that: India will require display of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) per standardised unit of measure (i.e. the unit price) on pre-packaged commodities sold by retailers after 31 March 2022. Currently only the MRP has to be displayed. In New…

25 March , 2022

CFA publishes submission to Domestic Organics Regulatory Impact Statement

CFA has made a submission to the consultation the on how the Australian Government can regulate organic products domestically. The consultation document examines the policy problem under consideration, as well as potential regulatory and non-regulatory options for reform. In its submission CFA states: Australian consumers should be protected from misleading and misrepresentation in relation to produce and…

9 March , 2022

Can my watch, TV or other Internet of Things device be a cyber risk?

More and more everyday objects are connecting to the internet and while these “smart” devices offer benefits to consumers, they come with cyber risks when not developed and maintained with security in mind and often lack the security capabilities of traditional computer products. There is growing concern about the rising threats stemming from insecure consumer IoT devices.…

8 March , 2022

Why do we need more women on standards committees? (International Women’s Day 8 March)

In a world designed by men, men’s participation in standardisation is twice as high as women’s. Many standards for products and services do not adequately address how women and men may be affected differently, and yet women influence between 64%-85% of all buying decisions globally. The use of standards and technical regulations are powerful tools to attain UN Sustainable Development…

8 February , 2022

An interview with Paul Loney: representing consumer interests in standards development for 18 years

A conversation with CFA Standards Representative Paul Loney about his participation in standards development, what his work looks like today and what keeps him excited to represent consumers. How long have you worked in standards development and can you tell me about some changes you’ve seen in that time? I’ve been representing consumers in standards…

28 January , 2022

Seat belts for pets?

Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, yet when it comes to road safety, there is no national standard on the design, testing (including crash testing) or manufacture of car restraints to keep our pets and vehicle occupants safe. Dogs are the most popular animal companions (40%), followed by cats (27%). According to…