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Consumer focused

FAQs in this category are consumer focused. They provide product and general safety information about buying and using specific products.

General

Do consumers who are selling a used second hand product have to make sure that it complies with the mandatory standard?
No. Only businesses supplying second hand products in trade or commerce have to ensure they ...
How do I know if a product complies with a mandatory standard?
Some products will state that the product complies and others will not. Ask the supplier and...
If there is a Standards Australia sticker or tag on the product does that mean the product complies with the mandatory standard?
Not necessarily. While mandatory standards are generally based on the voluntary standards develop...
Are other sleeping facilities like bassinettes, carry cots and baby hammocks covered by another mandatory standard?
There are no mandatory standards for these products, although there may be voluntary standards av...

Baby dummies

How can you know whether a dummy is safe?
There is a mandatory safety standard for baby dummies in Australia. The mandatory standard ...

Bisphenol A in consumer products

Is it safe to feed babies with a plastic bottle that may contain Bisphenol A?
Yes. From a nutritional perspective breastfeeding is often recommended, but evidence shows infant...
What consumer products contain Bisphenol A?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in products made from polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate is ...
Is it OK to heat a plastic bottle that may contain Bisphenol A in the microwave?
Check the product instruction or ask the supplier if a bottle is suitable for heating in the micr...
Are plastic food or drink containers that contain Bisphenol A safe?
Yes. The weight of scientific evidence currently available supports the view that there is no kno...

Blind & curtain cords

Where can I buy safety devices for blind and curtain cords?
You can get safety devices such as cord guides, cleats and tension devices from hardware or windo...
Are there rules requiring that only safe blinds can be supplied?
On 1 January 2011, the new national regulations came into effect and apply throughout Australia. ...
What if my blind or curtain cord can’t work without a looped cord?
Fit it with a cord-tensioning device that encloses the cord or chain loops, or use a cleat to sec...
I don’t want to damage my new tiles by drilling holes into them so that I can fix a cord tension device. What else can I do?
Remember that a child’s life may be at stake, so reconsider drilling the holes. Alternati...
I live in a rented home and my lease agreement doesn’t allow me to drill holes in the walls. How can I still fix dangerous curtain and blind cords?
If you live in a rented home, contact your landlord or property manager and ask them to arrange t...

Formaldehyde in consumer products

What sorts of consumer products have formaldehyde in them?
Low levels of formaldehyde can be found in many products. Building materials Doors, solid com...
Are formaldehyde levels in clothing regulated in other countries?
Yes. There are currently (2010) regulations for formaldehyde in a number of countries. Details ar...

Glucomannan in tablet form

Can suppliers or consumers obtain a permit to import Glucomannan in tablet form?
It is not appropriate for the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs to issue a per...

Household cots

Should I get rid of our second-hand cot and replace it one that meets the mandatory standard?
Household cots may be used for only short periods. As a result, it is possible that a s...
My child is starting to want to climb out of the folding cot. Should I keep using it with my child?
When children are too big or too old for a folding cot you should only sleep them in a household ...
When should parents or carers move infants out of a cot?
Children are usually ready for a low bed or a toddler bed when they can: stand confidently in ...

Hot water bottles

Is it ok to use an old hot water bottle?
Never use an old hot water bottle. Even if it looks ok on the outside, the rubber may not be ok o...
Do hot water bottles come with an expiry date?
Most bottles have a date stamp on a daisy wheel somewhere on the bottle, with two numbe...

Mobility scooters

Are there any rules that apply to mobility scooters?
The Australian Road Rules state that users of mobility scooters are legally defined as pedestrian...
Who should use a mobility scooter?
Persons intending to use mobility scooters should have the necessary physical and cognitive skill...

Moveable soccer goals

What type of goalposts should consumers purchase?
The following types of soccer goalposts are safer options: permanent soccer goals—any soccer...

Nano particles in consumer products

What sorts of consumer products have nano-scale materials in them?
At the molecular level, all materials and chemicals are made from nanometre-scale structures, and...
Are nanoparticles in sunscreens harmful?
Sunscreens have contained nano-scale particles for several decades and there is no evidence to su...
Do cosmetics contain nanoparticles?
Many skin care ingredients are chemical solutions or liquid polymers that contain insoluble parti...

Phthalates in consumer products

Are phthalates regulated in other countries?
Certain phthalates are regulated in the: USA European Union USA On 14 August 2008, the ...
How can concerned parents and carers avoid exposure of children to phthalates?
Research shows that very few children’s plastic products available in the Australian marke...
Are there health concerns about plastic children’s products with more than 1 per cent DEHP?
The main health concern associated with DEHP is that animal studies have shown that high regular ...

Prams & strollers

Should I replace my old pram with one that meets the mandatory standard?
A pram or stroller is not necessarily unsafe just because it was made or supplied before the mand...
When can parents or carers stop using a pram and safely begin using a stroller to carry their child?
Usually when babies are around six months old they can start travelling in an upright or semi rec...
Do consumers who are selling a used second-hand pram or stroller have to make sure that it complies with the mandatory standard?
No. Only businesses supplying second prams or strollers in trade or commerce have to ensure they ...
Are products like stroller tricycles (stroller trikes), bike trailers and other wheeled vehicles covered by the mandatory standard for prams and strollers? If not, are they covered by other standards?
They may be covered by the mandatory standard if they are designed and intended to transport chil...

Reduced fire risk cigarettes

How do smokers check cigarettes that comply with reduced fire risk regulations?
Look for the statement “AUSTRALIAN FIRE RISK STANDARD COMPLIANT. USE CARE IN DISPOSAL” ...
Do the laws for reduced fire risk cigarettes apply to loose tobacco and papers?
No. Certain products are exempt, including cigars and loose tobacco.
When did the sale of non reduced-fire-risk cigarettes cease?
23 September 2010

Spas and pools

Tinted headlight covers

How are tinted headlight covers tested for compliance?
A test of tinted headlight covers for compliance would measure the amount of light or luminous tr...

Treadmills

Does the treadmill warning label have to be of a particular size?
Yes. According to the mandatory standard, the word WARNING must be in bold upper case letters not...
Does the treadmill warning label need to be separate from any other warning?
Yes. The warning label needs to be seperate from any other warning.
What types of helmets have mandatory safety standards?
Bicycle helmets and motorcycle helmets each have their own mandatory standard, meaning that there...
Does the ACCC test products for safety?
Where there is evidence that consumer products have or could cause injury or death, the governmen...
What is the difference between Australian standards and mandatory standards?
There are two key differences between voluntary standards (including Australian and international...

Toys

How do you measure the weight of a moveable soccer goal?
Follow these steps to measure the weight of a moveable soccer goal. If it weighs 28 kilograms or ...
Why have some small, high powered magnets been banned?
Small, high powered magnets can cause severe internal injuries if two or more are swallowed. The ...
Are any fridge magnets covered in the ban on small, high powered magnets?
Many fridge magnets consist of a magnet which is embedded in another object such as plastic or a ...
I believe that magnets have been helpful treating my chronic pain condition. Does the ban on small, high powered magnets restrict their sale for therapeutic purposes?
The ban is not intended to cover small, high powered magnets for therapeutic use.
Does the ban on small, high powered magnets replace the mandatory standard for toys containing magnets?
The ban on small, high powered magnets does not replace the mandatory standard for toys cont...

Product categories

Consumer categories

Business categories

Consumer focused

General

Baby dummies

Bisphenol A in consumer products

Blind & curtain cords

Bunk beds

Children's nightwear

Folding cots

Formaldehyde in consumer products

Glucomannan in tablet form

Household cots

Hot water bottles

Mobility scooters

Moveable soccer goals

Nano particles in consumer products

Phthalates in consumer products

Prams & strollers

Reduced fire risk cigarettes

Spas and pools

Tinted headlight covers

Treadmills

Toys

I want to...