The ACCC has launched a new-look SCAMwatch website. The new site has tips and advice on a range of common and not-so-common scams, tricks, frauds and swindles that target Australian consumers and small businesses.
The most recent meeting of the ACCC's Franchising Consultative Panel was held on Friday 13 October 2006. The panel, comprised of ACCC staff, representatives of franchisees and franchisors, the Office of the Mediation Adviser and Office of Small Business, discussed issues in the franchising sector, including the current review of the disclosure provisions of the Franchising Code of Conduct. ACCC Outreach staff also updated the panel on ACCC initiatives to provide information on the code to prospective franchisees.
Mandatory standard for babies’ dummies
On 23 October 2006 the Hon. Chris Pearce MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, announced a new mandatory safety standard for babies’ dummies. An ACCC product safety information brochure, Babies dummies, safety alert, was also launched. The brochure outlines some of the main features of the new standard as well as providing tips on the safe use of babies dummies.
The safety standard was established under the Trade Practices Act and requires that babies' dummies supplied in Australia must meet a number of basic safety requirements drawn from the Australian Standard for babies' dummies, AS 2432:1991. These are substantially the same as corresponding requirements specified in the European Standard for infant soothers, EN 1400, and the US Regulation for pacifiers, 16 CFR Part 1511.
The mandatory standard includes requirements to address the critical choking hazards for dummies, specifying requirements for shield shape, size and ventilation holes, the integrity of construction and the tear resistance of the teat. Labelling must also warn not to tie the dummy around a baby's neck.
The mandatory standard is declared by Consumer Protection Notice No.4 of 2006, which is listed on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI number F2006L03455). A copy of the document in various formats is available through the Comlaw website: www.comlaw.gov.au. Copies of Babies dummies, safety alert are available on the ACCC website www.accc.gov.au or by calling the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.
TPA matters for small business
ACCC Commissioner Mr John Martin launched TPA matters for small business, a mini-CD compilation of all the ACCC’s small business publications, at a recent meeting of the Small Business Coalition.
TPA matters for small business contains trade practices information relevant to small businesses in the form of ACCC publications and links to relevant pages on the ACCC and other websites. Small business people seeking information on their rights and obligations under the TPA will now be able to find everything they need in one simple source.
The disk was developed in response to feedback provided by small business people and franchisees around Australia to the ACCC's regional outreach team, which indicated small business people need easy access to up-to-date and concise information on the TPA but do not have much time to look for it.
The publications on the disk cover such topics as restrictive trade practices including price fixing and market sharing, misleading and deceptive conduct, franchising, unconscionable conduct and the role of the ACCC in administering the Act.
