In 2023-24, the ACCC will turn its attention to consumer products affecting young children’s safety and infant sleep products.
ACCC’s role in protecting consumers from unsafe products includes four priority areas such as supporting consumer confidence in sustainable products and product safety online.
“Consumers expect the products they purchase to be safe and these priorities are critical to minimise the risks posed by unsafe products,” says ACCC deputy chair, Catriona Lowe.
“This broad body of work will involve continuing compliance, enforcement and education initiatives with a focus on toys for children under three, products containing button batteries and toppling furniture.”
While safety is its main priority, the ACCC will also focus on sustainability, reflecting the changing behaviour of consumers as they strive to be more environmentally conscious and make sustainable purchases.
“We will take action to support consumer confidence in the safety of sustainable products that are helping to underpin Australia’s transition to net zero and a circular economy.
“Over the next 12 months, we’ll develop best practices to reduce safety risks from reused or second-hand goods that are sold online and update recall guidelines to cover the circular economy.”
Product safety online also remains a priority for the ACCC, Lowe adds.
“We will refocus our efforts to ensure we are meeting the challenges consumers face in the ever-increasing digital economy.
“We’ll continue to encourage online platforms and suppliers to adopt best practices to prevent and detect the sale of unsafe goods as well as monitoring unsafe, non-compliant and banned products online using surveillance technology.
“We’ll also develop best practice principles to reduce the safety risks from second-hand goods sold online.”
