The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) developed mandatory safety and information standards to reduce the risk of injury and death to children from exposure to/swallowing button/coin batteries. On December 21, 2020, the Federal Government made these standards into law. The standards include a transition period of 18 months and the requirements will become mandatory on June 22, 2022. Supplying or selling non-compliant products to consumers in Australia is illegal.

    1.Applicable scope
    Most button/coin batteries and consumer goods containing button/coin batteries. Exempted goods:
    (1)Button/coin batteries supplied in bulk for professional use (subject to certain criteria);
    (2)Audio visual and information communications technology equipment containing button/coin batteries that are soldered in place;
    (3)Hearing aids in relation to secure battery requirements, but these products are subject to warning requirements;
    (4)Button/coin batteries of zinc-air chemistry intended for hearing aids are exempt from child-resistant packaging requirements, but these products are subject to warning requirements.

    2.Key requirements
    (1) Button/coin batteries
    ①Packaging must be child-resistant for button/coin batteries of lithium with a diameter of 16 mm or above, and compliance testing must demonstrate that safety requirements have been met (refer to the Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020).
    ②Blister packaging must be designed to release only one battery at a time.
    ③Any spare button/coin batteries that are supplied with a consumer good, where the battery is not pre-installed in a secure battery compartment, must be enclosed in child-resistant packaging.
    ④Button/coin batteries of lithium chemistry with a diameter of 20 mm and above must be marked with the following internationally recognized “Keep Out of Reach of Children” symbol. The symbol should be clearly visible and at least 6 mm in diameter for warning and protecting children.
    image.png
    ⑤Button/coin battery packaging must contain warnings and information to alert consumers to the hazard they pose to children. Example of a suitable packaging warning for button/coin batteries:
    image.png

    (2) Consumer goods containing button/coin batteries
    ①Consumer goods containing button/coin batteries that are intended to be replaced by the consumer must have a secure battery compartment that is resistant to being opened by young children.
    ②Consumer goods containing button/coin batteries, whether or not the batteries are intended to be replaced, must be secure and not release the batteries during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions.
    ③Compliance testing must demonstrate that safety requirements have been met (refer to the Safety and Information Standards for Consumer Goods Containing Button/Coin Batteries 2020).
    ④Warnings are required on the packaging of consumer goods containing button/coin batteries or in accompanying instructions. If the consumer good is supplied unpackaged, or not supplied with instructions, warnings must be attached or included with the consumer good to alert consumers that a button/coin battery is included with the product and the hazard button/coin batteries pose to children. Example of a suitable packaging warning for a product containing a lithium button/coin battery:
    image.png
    For information about other compliance requirements for button/coin batteries and consumer goods containing button/coin batteries, see ACCC’s Button/Coin Batteries and Consumer Goods Containing Button/Coin Batteries Fact Sheet.

    3. What actions should I take?
    All sellers of button/coin batteries and consumer goods containing button/coin batteries shall verify with your suppliers whether such products meet Australian mandatory safety and information standards. If any of your products do not comply with the requirements, you shall remove such products from AliExpress or restrict the selling of such products to Australia no later than June 22, 2022.

    4. Where can I find more information on product safety?
    For more information about the Australian product safety system, visit the Product Safety Australia website (www.productsafety.gov.au). In addition, ACCC has also formulated special requirements for online sellers. Please visit the website to confirm that your products comply with the product safety laws. You may also subscribe to ACCC’s latest product safety updates.

    Please note that the above information does not constitute legal advice and shall not be deemed or represent the legal opinion or conclusion of the regulatory body. Besides, we do not undertake or warrant that the information represents the latest laws and regulations. For specific information, consult the competent authority, law firms, or third-party certification/testing/consulting companies in the target country or region.

    AliExpress
    August 16, 2021