Regulation 6 of theTrade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard)(Bicycle Helmets) Regulations 2001 incorporates a 'sunset' provision providing that the standard expires on 12 December 2008. A minor amendment extends the operation of the regulations until 12 December 2009, which will permit finalisation of reviews of the current mandatory standard and the Australian Standard on which it is based.
Revised mandatory standard for vehicle support stands
The ACCC has revised the mandatory consumer product safety standard for vehicle support stands. A copy of the revised mandatory standard can be located onthe Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
New mandatory safety standard on lead and certain elements in children’s toys
In response to major worldwide recalls of toys with excess levels of lead, a Trade Practices Act ban on toys with a lead migration level greater than 90 parts per million was introduced on 19 September 2007. The ban was designed to provide adequate consumer protection while a new mandatory Australian standard was developed.
The World Health Organisation has identified serious health issues associated with excessive levels of lead, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury and selenium. The hazardous nature of these elements is recognised in major safety standards for children’s toys that specify safe levels of contact for children.
Lead is particularly harmful to children's developing bodies. Lead exposure can cause learning and behavioral problems and possible damage to children's brains, kidneys and other organs. The severe toxicity of lead was illustrated in the United States in 2006 when a child died after swallowing a lead trinket.
The new mandatory safety standard on lead and certain elements in children’s toys will come into effect on 1 January 2010. It includes the safety requirements of the relevant Australian standards but differs from the interim ban by including limits on the migration of mercury, selenium, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium and chromium as well as lead. The new standard also includes a separate and more stringent standard for fingerpaints, in recognition of the particular danger this type of product represents to young children.
Product Recalls Australia website redevelopment
The Product Recalls Australia website is about to be upgraded. It will, for the first time, include a facility for suppliers and other regulators to submit product recall notifications using a standardised online section 65R notification form.
Other improvements to the website include:
Recalls will be organised by topic to make it easier for consumers to find what they are particularly interested in.
An enhanced advanced search page.
A facility for email alerts and RSS feeds (requested by consumers for a long time).
An expanded list of frequently asked questions.
A 'Hot topic' feature, for providing information on topical issues.This could be used is to advise consumers not only of issues within the scope of the ACCC but also those of particular interest to consumers—for example, the recent pet food recalls.Although the ACCC was formally advised of these recalls, we were not able to enter them as recalls notified to the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs under s. 65R of the Trade Practices Act, because that section refers to products that will or may cause injury to any person.
Recalls—last 30 days will still be available.
Recalls by year will also be available.
Recalls statistics will still be available, as will the guide for business on how to conduct a product recall.
