Product safety for business

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Product safety

A business must make sure their products meet mandatory standards and bans and be safe to use. 

You can look up products on the Product Safety Australia website to find details on many banned products including photos. 

Checklist for businesses:

Before you import or sell a product check:

  • Is the product banned or recalled?
  • Are there any safety or information standards?
  • Do I need to do any product testing? Can the supplier provide a certificate showing the product has been tested to Australian standards?
  • Will I need liability insurance?

Australian Consumer Law 

The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) requires safety standards to be met before certain products are sold. These standards include:

  • the way the product is made
  • what it contains
  • how it works
  • what tests it needs to pass, or
  • whether any warnings or instructions need to go with the product. 

It is illegal to sell products that:

  • breach mandatory safety or information standards or 
  • are temporarily or permanently banned.

Never assume imported products have been checked for compliance with Australia's product safety laws, even if they have been cleared by Customs. 

Fines

  • Individuals can be fined up to $2,500,000.
  • Corporations can be fined (whichever is the greatest):
    • up to $50,000,000 or
    • 3 times the value of the benefit received or 
    • 30% of the corporation's adjusted turnover the breach turnover period for the offence.

Mandatory reporting

If you become aware a product or related service you have provided has caused, or may have caused death or serious injury or illness to any person, you must report it to the Commonwealth Minister within two days. Product Safety Australia has more information on Mandatory reporting.

Product safety guide for business 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission guides help businesses understand their obligations with product safety and the Australian Consumer Law:

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