
ACCC targets unsafe consumer and digital products
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced a new enforcement focus targeting unsafe consumer goods and manipulative digital market practices.
- The regulatory push prioritises safety standards for young children and the development of safety rules for e-micromobility devices.
- The initiative aims to protect financially strained households from being forced to choose between product affordability and safety.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission executed an agreement to prioritise the enforcement of consumer product safety issues for young children and manipulative practices in digital markets.
The independent regulator contrastingly expanded its focus this year to include the rapid growth of e-bikes and e-scooters within the everyday transport mix.
“Consumers should not have to choose between affordability and safety, particularly at a time when many households are already under financial pressure,” said ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb.
The secondary details of the enforcement strategy include strict compliance checks on button batteries, infant sleep products, toppling furniture, and the speed and power limits of electric mobility devices.
The commission stated that its upcoming regulatory work will focus on identifying and addressing systemic non-compliance through direct enforcement to drive broader market deterrence.
The agency recently secured a legal outcome against supermarket retailer Coles as part of its broader mandate to ensure fair trading and consumer protection.
The regulator's long-term business strategy relies on updating mandatory safety standards to improve market compliance, broaden consumer choice, and lower overall household costs.