Supplier checklist for conducting a recall

  • This checklist is not listed in a particular order and not all items apply to every recall.
  • You may complete many items at the same time and some items are ongoing.
  • You can modify this checklist to suit your business processes.

Tell the ACCC of the recall

  • Tell the ACCC about your recall within 2 days of taking a recall action.
  • Tell overseas persons about the recall and send a copy of this notice to the ACCC within 10 days - if you have supplied the recalled product to persons overseas.
Tell the ACCC of the recall

Identify affected products and assess the risk

  • Identify affected products – name, model, serial numbers, batch numbers, production dates, manufacturer, expected lifespan of the product.
  • Stop sale, manufacture, import, and advertising of the product.
  • Identify the number of affected products supplied to consumers and those in the supply chain.
  • Identify the defect and hazard – write a clear description.
  • Submit a mandatory report within 2 days of becoming aware of death, serious injury or illness - review details of all known injuries or incidents.
  • Conduct risk assessments to understand the risk, failure rate and urgency of the recall.
  • Identify the cause of the defect and the stage of supply where the fault occurred.
  • Fix the root cause – decide the steps to take and assess whether your fix is effective – keep good records of the steps taken.
Identify affected products and assess the risk

Prepare to recall

  • Take immediate recall action.
  • Work out if you or another supplier will lead the recall.
  • Activate your recall plan.
Prepare to recall

Choose the remedy and/or remedies

  • Decide on a suitable remedy – be consistent with Australian Consumer Law remedies.
  • Plan how you will recall products that have been sold second-hand.
  • This includes any products that contain a recalled part. Give instructions to the supply chain about the remedy.
  • Plan how you will dispose of the affected product or faulty part.
Choose the remedy and/or remedies

Plan how you will communicate the recall

  • Identify how you will tell consumers about the recall.
  • Gather contact details for consumers, those in the supply chain, manufacturers, importers and overseas recipients you have supplied.
  • Create your recall advertisements and messages.Consider social media, in-store, online advertising, emails and text messages. Plan when and how often you will advertise and how long you’ll promote them for.
  • Communicate early and often with consumers and those in the supply chain.
  • Provide information about the recall to your supply chain. Include how to communicate the risk, advertising details, and other steps to improve the recall’s effectiveness.
  • Set up multiple ways for consumers and those in the supply chain to contact your business about the recall.
  • Set up a dispute resolution process to address consumer complaints about the recall – keep records.
Plan how you will communicate the recall

During the recall: Track, review, report and adjust

  • Keep track of how many products you and others in the supply chain have provided a remedy for – submit a recall progress report one month after your recall is published and then at agreed times.
  • Monitor and track incidents and complaints.
  • Reassess the risk.
  • Regularly review and update your strategy to know if your communication is effective.
  • Keep recall communication current and consistent. Update messages when there is a change to the defect or hazard or how to receive a remedy. Tell the ACCC so we can update the Product Safety Australia website.
  • Tell the ACCC of any issues or changes with the recall.
During the recall: Track, review, report and adjust

Finalise the recall

  • Continue to provide remedies to consumers until all products are accounted for.
  • Tell us when all products have been accounted for.
  • When not all products can be retrieved or accounted for - tell us when and why you think your recall has removed the risk from consumers and you want to finalise your recall. We will consider the next steps.
  • Update your recall plan to include any lessons learned from the recall.
Finalise the recall

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