What the ACCC does

  • We analyse and update mandatory product safety standards.
  • We identify which Australian or overseas standards might be suitable to reference in our mandatory standards.

What the ACCC can't do

  • We don’t resolve individual complaints about unsafe products.
  • We don’t give legal advice, approve or test products for safety or compliance with mandatory standards.

On this page

How mandatory standards are made

Certain products supplied in Australia must meet the requirements of a mandatory standard.

Mandatory standards are made and amended by the Commonwealth Minister. They are a key part of Australia’s product safety framework. The ACCC undertakes reviews of mandatory standards and can recommend changes for the minister’s decision.

Mandatory standards can include requirements about:

  • performance
  • composition
  • methods of manufacture or processing
  • design
  • construction
  • packaging
  • labelling.

Mandatory standards often reference voluntary standards, or parts of these voluntary standards, from Australia or overseas. This means that some or all of the requirements of a voluntary standard become part of the mandatory standard.

Updating mandatory standards

In late 2024, the Australian Consumer Law was amended to allow mandatory standards to reference a greater variety of voluntary standards. This includes updates to these voluntary standards that happen from time-to-time, known as dynamic references.

These reforms will allow mandatory standards to be updated to give businesses more options for how they comply with mandatory standards. This will help reduce businesses' compliance costs.

This may lead to lower prices and greater product choice for consumers, without a reduction in safety.

Dynamic referencing

When a new version of a referenced voluntary standard is published, we review it to assess whether it should become a compliance option.

If the new version is suitable, it can become a compliance option after a review period. If it is not suitable, we can recommend to the Minister that it not be accepted.

Older versions of the referenced voluntary standards will stop being compliance options after a set period. This is as specified in the mandatory standard.

Example of the dynamic referencing process

This example provides a 6-month review period for the new voluntary standard followed by a 2-year phase out period of the old voluntary standard.

Diagram illustrating the update process for a referenced voluntary Australian Standard that is referenced in a mandatory standard.

This diagram shows how a referenced voluntary Australian Standard can be updated in a mandatory standard, and the compliance options available to suppliers. The timeline runs from 1 December 2026 to after 1 July 2030.

  • The 2023 standard is a compliance option from 1 December 2026 to 1 July 2030.
  • The 2028 standard is under ACCC review from 1 January 2028 to 1 July 2028, then becomes a compliance option.
  • Both standards are compliance options from 1 July 2028 to 1 July 2030.
  • From 1 July 2030, the 2023 standard is no longer a compliance option.

Review of mandatory standards

In July 2025 the ACCC began limited reviews of some mandatory standards.

These reviews will focus on increasing compliance options and adding dynamic references where appropriate.

We are not considering significant changes in these limited reviews. This means we won't adjust the scope of mandatory standards or other major requirements like performance measures. We may consider these changes in future comprehensive reviews.

We are choosing mandatory standards for these limited reviews based on:

  • whether there are relevant overseas or international standards that could be referenced to maintain or improve consumer safety
  • stakeholder interest
  • how long since the standard was last reviewed
  • the potential compliance cost savings for business.

After a review, we can recommend mandatory standard amendments to the minister.

Currently under review

Upcoming reviews

Completed review

Consulting on proposed changes

We will use our consultation hub so stakeholders can provide their views about proposed changes to each of the mandatory standards we review.

We will consult on:

  • which voluntary standards should be referenced in a mandatory standard
  • how voluntary standards should be referenced.

We will also consult on appropriate transition periods to allow businesses to:

  • sell existing stock
  • make manufacturing and design changes
  • undertake testing to ensure compliance.

Subscribe for product safety news to find out when mandatory standard consultations open.

See also

Mandatory standards

Product safety priorities