Furniture suppliers are now required to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture.
The mandatory information standard for toppling furniture came into effect on 4 May 2025 after at least 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia from toppling furniture since 2000 and more than 900 Australians suffer injuries each year.
A mandatory information standard is a critical step towards reducing the injuries and deaths involving toppling furniture, says ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe.
“The impact of furniture tip-over can be tragic, with young children and the elderly most at risk,” she explains.
“The information standard raises awareness about the risk of furniture tip-over and empowers consumers with the knowledge they need to safeguard their homes.”
The new information standard applies to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and sideboards with a height of 686mm or more and entertainment units of any height.
In line with these new Australian requirements, furniture retailer IKEA Australia has introduced fixed safety labelling to products that present a toppling risk including bookcases, chests of drawers, wardrobes and TV cabinets.
“Permanent, visible labels are now attached to our products,” says the retailer.
“We are educating our customers both in store and online on the risks of toppling furniture and how to properly secure their item to a wall. We are training IKEA co-workers on toppling safety risks and how to talk to customers about this topic in a positive way, which encourages them to make their home safer for their family.
“Toppling furniture warnings will be prominent in our signage and other communications in-store, online and in our instruction manuals.”
Suppliers face serious penalties for non-compliance, with penalties up to $50 million for businesses and $2.5 million for individuals.
Image: IKEA Australia
