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Products the mandatory standard applies to
The mandatory standard applies to inflatable and non-inflatable aquatic toys. This includes items that can be worn or attached to the body.
These aquatic toys are:
- able to bear the mass of a child under the age of 14
- to use in play in shallow water by a child.
Aquatic toys can include but aren’t limited to:
- inflatable novelty shapes
- inflatable toy boats for shallow water
- unattached rings — complete or partial.
There’s a separate mandatory standard for swimming and flotation aids. Aquatic toys are not swimming and flotation aids.
Products the mandatory standard does not apply to
The mandatory standard doesn’t apply to:
- beach balls
- bodyboards
- kickboards
- surfboards
- inflatable air beds
- inflatable boats for deep water.
Complying with the mandatory standard
These requirements are intended to reduce the risk of serious injury or death to children from drowning.
This information is an overview of how to comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
View the full detail of the mandatory standard.
Design and construction
Inflatable aquatic toys must meet design and construction requirements set out in the mandatory standard:
- air inlets of inflatable aquatic toys must have non-return valves (a valve that permits air to flow in one direction) with stoppers permanently attached to the toy
- when the toy is inflated, the stopper must be capable of being pushed into the toy so that it does not stand out more than 5 mm from the surface of the toy.
Warning requirements
Aquatic toys must have a permanent warning on them as required by the mandatory standard.
The warning statement must state that this is not a life saving device, followed by a warning that the toy should only be used in shallow water under supervision.
Advertising copy or graphics shouldn’t say or imply that a child will be safe if left unsupervised with an aquatic toy.
Mandatory standard details
The Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 sets out the mandatory requirements for aquatic toys.
The accompanying Explanatory Statement has further information.
An aquatic toy must comply with certain sections of one of the following standards:
- Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019 Safety of toys Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties
- International standard ISO 8124-1:2018 Safety of toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties.
You can buy these standards from Standards Australia, Intertek Inform, Accuris or ISO.
When a product does not comply
Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with a mandatory safety or information standard. For more information, see fines and penalties.
Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.
