It's time for a new product safety law

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Join the campaign for safe products

It should be illegal to sell dangerous products. No one should be put in hospital because something they bought was unsafe.

Add your name to tell the Assistant Treasurer that businesses should have to make sure the things they sell in Australia are safe.

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Demand an end to dangerous products

Right now, it is not illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia. This means when you go to the shops or buy something online, you can’t be certain that the manufacturer has made sure it’s safe for use.

In fact, only a handful of products are subject to mandatory safety standards, like button batteries – but this only happened after years of strong advocacy following infant injuries and deaths.

From Thermomixes that caused severe burns, to exploding Takata airbags, it’s clear we need stronger product safety laws in Australia.

According to CHOICE's 2018 Consumer Pulse survey, 79% of Australians surveyed believe businesses are currently legally required to ensure the products they sell are safe. Unfortunately, Australians simply aren't afforded these protections, despite the fact almost all of those surveyed (97%) think it's important we are.

This should be a priority for our leaders. That's why we're calling on the Assistant Treasurer to deliver better protections against dangerous products so that we can trust that the products we buy in Australia are safe. Sign the petition for strong product safety laws now.

Andrea and Summer's story

Andrea's four-year-old daughter, Summer, died in 2013 after she swallowed a button battery. Andrea used her voice to help win mandatory button battery safety standards. She is a powerful advocate for product safety law reform.

Click here to read their story.

The fight for button battery safety standards

2016
In the wake of the tragic deaths of Summer Steer and Isabella Rees from button battery related injuries, CHOICE partnered with Kidsafe QLD and The Parenthood to launch a petition calling on the government to introduce stricter safety standards for all products containing button batteries.
Later that year, the ACCC launched a new voluntary industry code that urged retailers to adopt safety measures that would reduce the risk of children ingesting button batteries. This was a welcome first step, but it relied on companies complying voluntarily.

2019
CHOICE conducted a button battery safety test that checked common household items against the voluntary standard. Of the 17 items we looked at, 10 had unsecured batteries that could be easily accessed and swallowed by children.
In September, parents Andrea Shoesmith and Allison Rees joined CHOICE product safety campaigners in Canberra. They shared their story with parliamentarians and demanded action on hundreds of unsafe products being sold in Australia every day, such as those containing button batteries.

2020
In October, the tragic news broke that three-year-old Brittney Conway had become the third child to die in Australia since 2013 after swallowing a button battery.
In December, the Australian government introduced new mandatory safety and information standards for all products containing button batteries – but we’re still fighting for a general product safety provision that would ensure all products we buy are subject to safety checks.

FAQs

What change is CHOICE calling for?

We want a new law for safe products. This will be a simple, clear law that says if you’re a business who sells a product in Australia, it must be safe. If the law is breached, it should attract a hefty fine.

How will a new product safety law make things better?

It will encourage businesses to think about the safety of their products earlier – with the threat of being hit with big fines if they don’t.

Under the current law, businesses tend to react to product safety problems. We want them to actively try to prevent them. We see individuals fight for remedies after a product injures them, or a business may launch a voluntary recall months or years after becoming aware of a safety risk. This isn’t good enough – we want safer markets.

This new law will give businesses a better incentive to make sure their products are safe before they start selling them.

How can I stay up to date on recalled products?

If you want to know whether a product has been recalled, visit the ACCC's product safety website. You can sign up for alerts and updates from the ACCC here as well.

Allison and Bella's story

Allison's 14-month-old daughter, Bella, swallowed a button battery in 2015 and died as a result of the damage it caused when it lodged in her oesophagus. In the face of personal tragedy, Allison has become a passionate advocate for better product safety protections.

Click here to read their story.