Suppliers take steps to ensure hot water bottles are safe

Two importers of hot water bottles have taken steps to ensure their products are safe following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raising concerns. 

"The ACCC had received reports that some hot water bottles, which were claimed to comply with the British Standard, had failed when tested", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.

"The importers, Livingstone International Pty Ltd and Mayvic Pty Ltd, have offered the ACCC court-enforceable undertakings, agreeing to stop supplying the hot water bottles, retailed under the names Livingstone and Sweda respectively, and will implement strong compliance programs.

"In both cases, certificates of compliance were provided to the importers by overseas manufacturers but the certificates were either false or were generic and did not necessarily apply to the hot water bottles being imported.

"This case highlights the need for importers to check the products they are bringing into the country and not just rely on certificates provided by manufacturers", Mr Samuel, said.

"Consumers should be able to have the upmost confidence in products which claim compliance with a standard and the onus is on importers and suppliers to ensure such claims are justified".

There is currently no standard for hot water bottles in Australia but this may change. To alert consumers to the hazards of misusing hot water bottles, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Mr Pearce, formally issued a warning notice to the public by Gazette on 5 September 2005. 

The ACCC will also undertake a public education program in time for next winter, urging consumers to follow instructions on hot water bottle packaging carefully.