A NEW national product safety guide aims to help businesses identify potentially dangerous or banned products.
Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O’Brien said the Product Safety Guide for Business was designed to help Victorian traders understand Australia’s national product safety laws and ensure compliance with them.
He said the safety guide would be a useful reference tool for traders.
“The guide has been printed in English, Vietnamese and Chinese and features photographs of many banned products,” he said. It has been designed for traders, particularly discount variety stores, weekend market traders and retailers of baby goods and toys.
“All businesses, including retailers and wholesalers, have a responsibility to ensure the products they sell comply with national product safety laws and to be aware of any changes to the law,” Mr O’Brien said.
“There are significant penalties for selling banned or non-compliant goods, and Consumer Affairs Victoria regularly conducts surveillance activities to identify traders with non-compliant products on their shelves.”
Mr O’Brien said businesses should not assume that all imported products have been checked for compliance with Australia’s product safety laws. The guide has been developed in partnership between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory consumer protection agencies.
It outlines mandatory standards in categories including baby products, clothing, confectionery, furniture, swimming pools, toys and vehicles. It is available from the ACCC and Consumer Affairs Victoria.
athomson@standard.fairfax.com.au
