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Certain products can only be sold in Australia if they are compliant with mandatory product safety standards. These can, in turn, reference additional AS and AS/NZS standards.
In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about finding the right standards and ensuring that your product meets the requirements.
Terminology
Safety standards can mean different things in the context of product compliance in Australia. To avoid confusion, I clarify the terminology used below:
a. Australian product safety standards refer to mandatory product safety standards authorised under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. These are essentially regulations rather than what you might think of as standards.
b. Product standards refer to AS, AS/NZS and other standards that set technical requirements. Some of these are referenced by Australian product safety standards and are therefore mandatory.
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What are Australian product safety standards?
The Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) grants the authorities the right to create safety standards for specific products or components. These safety standards set requirements in the following areas:
- Mechanical safety
- Flammability
- Other safety aspects
- Product labelling and warnings
- Packaging
- Documentation
- Testing
Most product safety standards also reference other product standards:
- AS standards
- AS/NZS standards
- EN standards
- ASTM standards
- ISO standards
These standards often complement the requirements found in safety standards related to the Australian Consumer Law.
Are Australian safety standards mandatory?
Yes, the Australian Consumer Law makes it clear that products covered by safety standards can only be sold in Australia if it complies with said standard.
For example, only bicycle helmets compliant with the Consumer Goods (Bicycle Helmets) Safety Standard 2024 can be sold in Australia.
Which products are covered by safety standards in Australia?
Below follows an overview of Australian product standards and relevant products:
General consumer products
| Product | Standard |
| Bicycle helmets | Consumer Goods (Bicycle Helmets) Safety Standard 2024 |
| Pedal bicycles | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 6 of 2004 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Pedal Bicycles: Safety Requirements |
| Balloon-blowing kits
Bean bags, bean bag covers and packages containing bean bag filling Elastic luggage straps |
Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standards) Regulations 1979 |
| Corded internal window coverings | Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard – Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010
Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014 |
| Decorative alcohol fuelled devices | Consumer Goods (Decorative Alcohol Fuelled Devices) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Disposable cigarette lighters | Consumer Goods (Disposable Cigarette Lighters) Safety Standard 2019 |
| Elastic luggage straps | Consumer Goods (Elastic luggage straps) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Hot water bottles | Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard) (Hot Water Bottles) Regulations 2008 |
| Consumer goods containing a non‑refillable helium cylinder | Consumer Goods (Non-refillable Helium Cylinders) Safety Standard 2022 |
| Portable fire extinguishers | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 9 of 2004 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Portable Fire Extinguishers: Aerosol Type |
| Portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers | Consumer Goods (Portable Non-aerosol Fire Extinguishers) Safety Standard 2021 |
| Portable swimming pools | Consumer Goods (Portable Swimming Pools) Safety Standard 2013 |
| Sunglasses and fashion spectacles | Consumer Goods (Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles) Safety Standard 2017 |
Toys
| Product | Standard |
| Lead and certain elements in children’s toys | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2009 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Lead and Certain Elements in Children’s Toys |
| Toys for children up to and including 36 months of age | Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023 |
| Aquatic toys | Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 |
| Projectile toys | Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020 |
| Toy containing magnets | Consumer Goods (Toys Containing Magnets) Safety Standard 2020 |
Children’s Products
| Product | Standard |
| Baby bath aids | Consumer Goods (Baby Bath Aids) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Baby’s dummies and dummy chains | Consumer Goods (Babies’ Dummies and Dummy Chains) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Baby walkers | Competition and Consumer Act 2010 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2013 – Safety Standard: Baby Walkers |
| Child restraint system for use in motor vehicles | Competition and Consumer Act 2010 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 2014 – Safety Standard: Child Restraint Systems for use in Motor Vehicles |
| Infant sleep product | Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2024 |
| Infant product | Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 2024 |
| Children’s nightwear
Limited daywear or paper patterns for children’s nightwear |
Consumer Goods (Children’s Nightwear and Limited Daywear and Paper Patterns for Children’s Nightwear) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Prams and strollers | Consumer Product Safety Standard for Prams and Strollers |
| Swimming or flotation ais | Consumer Goods (Swimming and Flotation Aids) Safety Standard 2017 |
Sports
| Product | Standard |
| Basketball ring and backboards | Consumer Goods (Basketball Rings and Backboards) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Exercise cycles | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 9 of 1997 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Exercise Cycles |
| Moveable soccer goals | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 28 of 2010 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Movable Soccer Goals |
| Treadmills | Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard) (Treadmills) Regulations 2009 |
Furniture
| Product | Standard |
| Toppling furniture | Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024 |
| Bean bags and bean bag covers | Consumer Goods (Bean Bags) Safety Standard 2014 |
| Bunk beds | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2003 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Bunk Beds |
Cosmetics
| Product | Standard |
| Cosmetics | Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020 |
Textiles
| Product | Standard |
| Textiles | Consumer Goods (Care Labelling) Information Standard 2023 |
Batteries
| Product | Standard |
| Button or coin batteries | Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020
Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020 |
| Product contain button or coin batteries | Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020
Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020 |
Vehicles and vehicles products
| Product | Standard |
| Miniature motorbikes | Consumer Goods (Miniature Motorbikes) Safety Standard 2019 |
| Quad bikes | Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019 |
| Self-balancing scooters | Consumer Goods (Self-balancing Scooters) Safety Standard 2018 |
| Portable ramp for vehicles | Consumer Goods (Portable Ramps for Vehicles) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Motor vehicle recovery straps | Consumer Goods (Motor Vehicle Recovery Straps) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Trolley jacks | Consumer Goods (Trolley Jacks) Safety Standard 2017 |
| Vehicle jacks | Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2010 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Vehicle Jacks |
| Vehicle support stands | Consumer Goods (Vehicle Support Stands) Safety Standard 2017 |
AS standards and AS/NZS standards
Most product safety standards related to the Australian Consumer Law reference Australian standards (AS) and Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS). Referenced standards are mandatory, as you can only comply with legal requirements if the product is also compliant with the referenced AS/NZS standard.
Examples
AS 2432:2015 – Babies’ dummies
AS/NZS 2063:2020 – Helmets for use on bicycles and wheeled recreational devices
US and European standards
Some safety standards give businesses the option to comply with European or American standards, instead of AS or AS/NZS standards.
Example
Case study: Bicycle Helmets
Consumer Goods (Bicycle Helmets) Safety Standard 2024 provides the following options:
- AS/NZS 2063:2020 – Helmets for use on bicycles and wheeled recreational devices
- AS/NZS 2063:2008 – Bicycle helmets
- EN 1078:2012+A1:2012 – Helmets for pedal cyclists and for users of skateboards and roller skates
- Snell B‑95 – 1995 Bicycle Helmet Standard, 1998 revision Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling
- ASTM F1447:2018 – Standard Specification for Helmets Used in Recreational Bicycling or Roller Skating
- 16 CFR Part 1203 – Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets
How can we comply with Australian standards?
First, you must read the standard to understand the requirements. In practice, you may need to do the following:
✅Adjust the product’s design to meet mechanical and other safety criteria
- Construction
- Small parts
- Sharp points
✅ Use materials that meet flammability requirements
✅ Use materials that do not contain DEHP, lead or other restricted substances
✅ Create product and packaging label files
✅ Create warnings
✅ Create instructions
✅ Adjust design based on requirements in referenced AS standards, AS/NZS standards, EN standards, ASTM standards, or ISO standards.
✅ Arrange third-party testing to verify compliance
FAQ
Do Chinese suppliers and products meet Australian standards?
In my experience, it is exceedingly rare to find products on, for example, Alibaba that are already designed to comply with Australian standards. This does not mean that Chinese manufacturers are incapable of meeting them.
Many Chinese suppliers are technically capable of manufacturing compliant goods, but they may not be familiar with the technical aspects of standards and specific labelling requirements.
As such, Australian importers must actively manage the process in the following ways:
✅ Provide “designed for compliance” product specifications
✅ Provide ready-made label files
✅ Arrange third-party testing before importing the goods
It would simply not be economically viable for a factory in China to spend time and money to meet Australian standards in the hope that an Australian buyer will eventually come by. Instead, this must be managed on a case-by-case basis.
Are all products in Australia subject to mandatory safety standards?
No, only products covered by the scope of product safety standards are required to comply with these. Far from all products sold in Australia are subject to such standards.
What are AS/NZS standards?
AS/NZS standards are joint Australian and New Zealand standards that set technical requirements concerning product safety, flammability, testing, and other areas.
These are generally voluntary, unless referenced by mandatory product safety standards.
Are AS/NZS standards mandatory?
Certain Australian safety standards (which are effectively regulations) reference AS/NZS standards. When this is the case, AS/NZS standards are mandatory.
Why should we comply with voluntary AS/NZS standards?
Yes, that is often the right thing to do. While only products subject to safety standards must comply with these, any unsafe product sold in Australia could be subject to a ban.
It is therefore in your best interest to ensure that your products are as safe as they can be, even when no mandatory standard exists.
Implementing voluntary AS/NZS standards can help you achieve that, while using standards that are recognised in Australia.
Are US and European product standards recognised in Australia?
Yes, but only in specific cases. As mentioned, certain EN and ASTM standards are accepted for bicycle helmets. That said, this is only because these standards are explicitly referenced in the Australian product safety standard.
What this means is that you should never take for granted that a European standard or American standard is accepted in Australia.
If that is the case, then that’s great for your business. You could save significant money by not being forced to arrange additional testing.
Bear in mind that additional requirements can still apply that go beyond the standards. For example, an EN standard may be recognised for certain aspects, but Australian labelling requirements could still apply.
