Australia’s consumer watchdog, the ACCC, has announced it’s targeting the safety of products sold on the internet, as part its 2018 product safety review.
Spurned by the “explosion” of online shopping, the regulator is cracking down on unsafe e-commerce products this year, ensuring items don’t “fall through the cracks”.
The ACCC will also review 66 compulsory safety standards and bans, and assess the compliance of Australian businesses.
The regulator affirms its creation of each years’ product safety priorities follows significant data analysis surrounding product injuries and deaths.
In addition to eight other critical safety issues, the ACCC is pushing for a general safety provision to be introduced into Australian Consumer Law.
ACCC Chairman, Rod Sims, asserts a general safety provision is important, as most consumers are unaware its not illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia:
“Most consumers are surprised to learn that it is not illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia. Indeed they purchase products with the expectation that they are safe,” Mr Sims said.
“Consumers put their trust in suppliers and known brand names as we are generally not in a position to assess hidden safety hazards at the point of sale ourselves.”
“Despite our best efforts, and yours, consumers are tragically injured and killed by unsafe products every year.”
“Why do we need a general safety provision? We need it because our current product safety laws are essentially reactive. They normally only come into play after a problem has occurred”.
Mr Sims also claims that Australia’s product safety standards is significantly behind the likes of the UK, EU, Singapore and Canada.
