On this page

What suppliers need to do

The Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024 commences on 4 May 2025. Furniture suppliers must make sure that they comply with the requirements of the mandatory information standard from this date.

Toppling furniture has killed at least 28 people in Australia since 2000 and causes nearly 20 injuries every week. The most common cause of toppling furniture related fatalities are head and crush related injuries and asphyxiation, with young children particularly at risk. Find further information on the risks and injuries associated with topping furniture in our consumer guide.

Provide safety information about the hazards of toppling furniture

Suppliers are required to provide information about:

  • the hazards associated with toppling furniture, and
  • how to reduce the likelihood of a toppling incident.

This must be done by:

  • providing in-store warnings on or near the product, such as a hang tag or placard
  • providing warnings online in the description of the product listing
  • making sure warning labels are affixed to toppling furniture, and
  • providing safety information in instructions included with toppling furniture.

Take these steps to make sure you comply

Suppliers of toppling furniture must comply with the mandatory information standard. Suppliers should:

  1. read the requirements in the Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024
  2. read this guide
  3. put systems in place to check compliance with the requirements of the mandatory information standard
  4. consider getting independent advice about your compliance with the mandatory information standard.

Suppliers can also register to receive email updates from the ACCC Product Safety website to keep up to date with the latest product safety information.

Furniture the mandatory information standard applies to

The mandatory information standard applies to these 3 categories of furniture where they are ‘consumer goods’. The Australian Consumer Law defines consumer goods as ‘goods that are intended to be used or are of a kind likely to be used for personal, domestic or household consumption’.

Category 1 furniture – A clothing storage unit or bookcase with a height of 686 mm or more. A clothing storage unit is an item of furniture designed to be used primarily to store clothes and that contains one or more doors, drawers or other extendable elements.

Category 2 furniture – Entertainment units of any height. Entertainment units are designed to be used primarily to house, support or carry a television.

Category 3 furniture – Hall tables, display cabinets, buffets, and sideboards with a height of 686 mm or greater.

Common names of furniture

The categories use common names of items of furniture. Where furniture of the same kind or type may be known by other names, it will also be captured by the mandatory information standard.

For example:

  • a hall table may also be referred to as a console table
  • a sideboard may also be referred to as a buffet, buffet cabinet or table, or credenza
  • a bookcase may also be referred to as bookshelves or a shelving unit
  • a clothing storage unit may also be referred to as a tallboy, dresser, dressing table, chest of drawers.

Other furniture that the mandatory information standard applies to

The following furniture is also included in the mandatory information standard as defined.

Businesses should seek independent legal advice to check compliance with the mandatory information standard if in doubt.

Stackable drawers or cubes

When sold in a kit or set, that results in a unit of 686mm in height or greater, stackable drawers or cubes are captured by the mandatory information standard, regardless of the weight. Individually sold drawers or cubes that don’t meet the height requirement aren’t captured.

Removeable totes, baskets or drawers

Removable totes, baskets or drawers are considered drawers or extendable elements as part of the definition of a clothes storage unit in the mandatory information standard. However, totes or baskets sold separately (without a furniture unit) aren’t captured.

Furniture with castors

Furniture captured within a category in the mandatory information standard and that has castors is still captured.

Furniture the mandatory information standard does not apply to

The following furniture items are not captured by the mandatory information standard.

Second-hand furniture

This includes business to consumer transactions such as second-hand furniture stores. It also includes consumer to consumer transactions.

Furniture designed to be affixed to a wall or structure

Furniture designed to be affixed to a wall or structure and cannot be used properly unless it’s affixed. For example, in-built wardrobes and certain kitchen cabinets.

In-store warning requirements

A warning about the risk of tip overs and the importance of anchoring must be displayed in-store, on or near the toppling furniture.

Where there is a display model of a product, the warning can be on a swing tag attached to the item, a placard on top or near the item, or on a removable sticker attached to a display model. Where there is no display model available, then the point-of-sale warnings should be attached to or near packaged items.

What must be included on the warnings

All warnings must include the following:

An alert word; for example, DANGER or WARNING with the letters of the alert word in upper case.  
A statement to the effect that children have died from furniture toppling over.  
A pictogram that shows a child standing or climbing on the toppling furniture, with a cross or strikethrough. Pictogram that shows a child climbing on toppling furniture, with a strikethrough
An internationally recognised safety alert symbol. Internationnally recognised safety alert symbol

The mandatory information standard has additional minimum warning requirements for each category of toppling furniture.

For simplicity, suppliers may combine warnings for more than one category, provided the warnings are compliant with the mandatory information standard and include the applicable warnings for each category. For example, use one warning for category 2 and 3 items.

Examples of in-store warnings

Compliant warnings may take numerous forms; below are examples of swing tags for in-store warnings that are compliant with section 8 of the mandatory information standard . The inclusion of pictograms that show toppling furniture anchored to a wall with a green tick is not required but is recommended.

Category 1
In-store warning for category 1 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough and pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. This furniture is at high risk of toppling over. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. Ask staff for further information or visit www.productsafety.gov.au.
Category 2
In-store warning for category 2 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough and pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. Ask staff for further information or visit www.productsafety.gov.au.
Category 3
In-store warning for category 3 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough and pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. This furniture is at high risk of toppling over. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. Ask staff for further information or visit www.productsafety.gov.au.

Online warning requirements

A warning about the risk of tip overs and the importance of anchoring must be included in the description of the toppling furniture item. The warning must be clearly visible, prominent and legible. As consumers may not view all pictures in a carousel, the required warnings should be included in the description of the item. 

What must be included in the online description

All warnings must include the following:

An alert word; for example, DANGER or WARNING with the letters of the alert word in upper case.  
A statement to the effect that children have died from furniture toppling over.  
A pictogram that shows a child standing or climbing on the toppling furniture, with a cross or strikethrough. Pictogram that shows a child climbing on toppling furniture, with a strikethrough
An internationally recognised safety alert symbol. Internationnally recognised safety alert symbol

The mandatory information standard has additional minimum warning requirements for each category of toppling furniture.

Examples of online warnings

See examples of online warnings required below. The inclusion of pictograms that show toppling furniture anchored to a wall with a green tick is not required but is recommended.

Category 1
Online warning for category 1 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick, pictogram of TV with strikethrough. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves. NEVER open more than one drawer at a time. Place heavy items down low.
Category 2
Online warning for category 2 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure your TV with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves.
Category 3
Online warning for category 3 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves.

Warning requirements on products

Toppling furniture items must have a label affixed to them that includes a warning about the risk of tip overs and the importance of anchoring. All warning labels must:

  • have text and information that is clearly visible, prominent, and legible
  • be permanent and durable
  • be in a location where it will be visible when the toppling furniture is empty.

These requirements apply regardless of the material the furniture is made from.

Placement of the warning label on products

The appropriate placement of the warning label may vary depending on the design of a specific furniture item.

The warning label should be in a location where it is visible when the product is empty, such as on the inside of a drawer or door.

  • For products that don’t have drawers or doors, this could be on a leg of the furniture, side of a shelf or underside of the top of a sofa table.
  • For products where affixing a sticker label is problematic (such as a wireframe or glass shelving unit) the warning label could for example be attached to the furniture with a cable tie.

What must be included on the warning labels

All warnings must include the following:

An alert word; for example, DANGER or WARNING with the letters of the alert word in upper case.  
A statement to the effect that children have died from furniture toppling over.  
A pictogram that shows a child standing or climbing on the toppling furniture, with a cross or strikethrough. Pictogram that shows a child climbing on toppling furniture, with a strikethrough
An internationally recognised safety alert symbol. Internationnally recognised safety alert symbol

The mandatory information standard has additional minimum warning requirements for each category of furniture.

Examples of product warning labels

Compliant warnings may take numerous forms; below are examples of permanent warning labels to be placed on furniture that are compliant with section 9 of the mandatory information standard.  The inclusion of pictograms that show toppling furniture anchored to a wall with a green tick is not required but is recommended.

Category 1
On product warning for category 1 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick, pictogram of TV with strikethrough. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves. NEVER open more than one drawer at a time. Place heavy items down low.
Category 2
On product warning for category 2 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. This is a permanent label. Do not remove!
Category 3
On product warning for category 3 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, or shelves. ALWAYS secure your television with an anchor device. This is a permanent label. Do not remove!

Instructions warning requirements

Any instructions (including assembly instructions) provided with the furniture must contain a clearly visible, prominent and legible warning about the risk of furniture tip overs and the importance of anchoring.

What must be included in the instructions

All warnings must include the following:

An alert word; for example, DANGER or WARNING with the letters of the alert word in upper case.  
A statement to the effect that children have died from furniture toppling over.  
A pictogram that shows a child standing or climbing on the toppling furniture, with a cross or strikethrough. Pictogram that shows a child climbing on toppling furniture, with a strikethrough
An internationally recognised safety alert symbol. Internationnally recognised safety alert symbol

Examples of instructions with warnings

See examples of warnings required to be provided with instructions below. The inclusion of pictograms that show toppling furniture anchored to a wall with a green tick is not required but is recommended:

Category 1
Instructions warning for category 1 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick, pictogram of TV with strikethrough. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves. NEVER open more than one drawer at a time. Place heavy items down low.
Category 2
Instructions warning for category 2 toppling furniture. Warning shows safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure your television with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves.
Category 3
Instructions warning for category 3 toppling furniture. Warning shows: safety alert symbol, pictogram of child climbing on toppling furniture with strikethrough, pictogram of wall anchor with tick. Warning includes the text: Children have died from furniture tipover. ALWAYS secure this furniture with an anchor device. NEVER allow children to stand, climb or hang on drawers, doors, or shelves.

The mandatory information standard has additional minimum warning requirements for each category of furniture.

Download warning label images

Download examples of toppling furniture warning label images ( ZIP 2.16 MB )

Compliance expectations

The mandatory information standard commences on 4 May 2025. From then, failure to comply with the mandatory information standard may constitute a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law and expose a business or individual to enforcement action by the ACCC.

The ACCC recognises suppliers may face challenges when preparing to comply with the mandatory information standard. For example, where packaged stock (such as flat-pack furniture) exists without the required warnings before the commencement of the mandatory information standard. 

The ACCC encourages suppliers to take all steps reasonably possible to comply with the mandatory information standard at commencement. The steps suppliers take to comply and to reduce the risk of death and injury associated with toppling furniture, will be taken into account in the ACCC’s assessment of compliance and in determining what, if any, action the ACCC may pursue in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy. The ACCC exercises discretion to direct resources to matters that provide the greatest overall benefit and will prioritise product safety risks in accordance with our priority factors.

See also

Toppling furniture mandatory standard

Toppling furniture and televisions consumer guidance