Balloon blowing kits

Under the mandatory standard, balloon blowing kits are items that contain a blow-pipe and a synthetic glutinous (glue-like) substance used to make inflated balloons by blowing the substance from the pipe.

This process makes it easy for children to accidentally swallow or inhale the substance, which can be extremely harmful if it contains benzene.

On this page:

• Hazards
• Mandatory standard
• Does this mandatory standard apply to my business?
• Complying with the mandatory standard
• Penalties and consequences

Hazards

Cancer

Benzene is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) and has been found in the balloon-making substance of these kits.

Mandatory standard

The Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standards) Regulations 1979, prescribes requirements for this mandatory standard.

This mandatory standard came into effect on 26 February 1997.

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Does this mandatory standard apply to my business?

Under the ACL supply includes:

• in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
• in relation to services - provide, grant of confer. 

This mandatory standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying balloon blowing kits, including:

• manufacturers
• importers
• distributors
• retailers
• hirers.

To allow for staggered implementation, there are some cases where a mandatory standard or ban prescribes different compliance dates for the manufacturing, importing and supply of a product. Manufacturers, importers and distributors should check for this detail in the mandatory standard before embarking on production, importation or distribution of these goods.

Complying with the mandatory standard

For complete information about the mandatory requirements for balloon blowing kits, suppliers must read the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standards) Regulations 1979. This information is essential to ensure you and your business comply with the mandatory standard.  Suppliers may also find the Supplier guide — Balloon blowing kits helpful in understanding aspects of the mandatory standard.

The key requirement is that balloon blowing kits must not contain benzene.

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Penalties and consequences

Suppliers can face heavy fines and recalls of non-compliant products if they trade in balloon blowing kits that fail to comply with requirements of this mandatory standard.  For more details, view Penalties and consequences.