CHOICE is calling for urgent action to address the growing risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, and products containing them, resulting in an increasing number of serious fires causing injury, death and damage to property.
Australia's product safety regime does not provide consumers with adequate protections for product safety issues. The regime is reactive and it can take someone being seriously injured or killed before a product is recalled, or before more proactive measures like mandatory standards are introduced.
While mandatory standards are an important control to address specific risks on the product level, there is no overarching general duty imposed on businesses in Australia to ensure the products they sell are safe. While this remains the case, consumers will be exposed to unacceptable risks from unsafe products and regulators and governments will continue to play catch up as new risks emerge.
CHOICE is calling for a general safety provision that applies to all businesses in the supply chain, including online marketplaces.
Download the statement (PDF)
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