The National Retail Association has been heavily involved in ensuring all parties across the supply chain from manufacturers through to retailers and online suppliers are making responsible decisions about button battery safety when procuring, designing, developing, or retailing button-battery powered devices.
In 2016, a multi-stakeholder industry working group devised the Industry Code for Consumer Goods that Contain Button Batteries, in conjunction with the ACCC and consumer safety regulators. The Industry Code aimed to reduce the risk of death and life-threatening injuries to children from button battery ingestion.
In December 2020, four mandatory standards for button batteries and products containing button batteries were introduced, with an 18-month transition period for businesses to comply. The standards are due to come into effect on 22 June 2022 at retail level.
Under the mandatory safety and information standards, products must have secure battery compartments to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries. Manufacturers must undertake compliance testing, supply batteries in child-resistant packaging, and place additional warnings and emergency advice on packaging and instructions.
The button battery mandatory standards are highly complex and a world-first.
The National Retail Association urges businesses who supply button batteries, or products that are powered by them, to review their product lines and ensure compliance with the standards ahead of the 22 June deadline.
ACCC Factsheet ACCC Guide for business
Access the Standards:
Prescribes design and testing requirements for all consumer goods containing button batteries, including storage containers and organisers, and accessories of consumer goods, such as remote controls that contain button batteries.
Prescribes warning requirements and best practice recommendations for consumer goods containing button batteries, including storage containers and organisers, and accessories of consumer goods, such as remote controls that contain button batteries.
Prescribes child-resistant packaging requirements for button batteries, based on their risk profile, to reduce the risk of death or serious injury from children accessing batteries directly from packaging.
Prescribes warning requirements and best practice recommendations for button battery packaging and button batteries themselves. Button battery packaging refers to all types of packaging or containers used when supplying button batteries.