Need to know
- Most Australians believe the products we buy, from toys to household appliances and other consumer goods, have to be tested to ensure they are safe for us to use
- While some items do need to pass certain safety standards, most do not
- CHOICE is calling on the government to put in place regulations to ensure more products get tested for safety
Australians are reminded to be wary of buying dangerous products this Christmas, as new data reveals most consumers are unaware how little we are protected from unsafe items including toys and everyday appliances.
As many people stock up on gifts this festive season, CHOICE is sharing the latest advice on how to make safer selections when shopping.
Consumers overestimating safety protections
New data from CHOICE shows Australians believe they are better protected from dangerous products than they really are.
Our September Consumer Pulse survey* of over 1000 households found three quarters (74%) believe businesses are legally required to make sure the products they sell are safe before making them available to consumers.
"This isn't the case," explains CHOICE deputy director of campaigns, Andy Kelly.
"[These figures are] concerning because consumers may have a false sense of security about the safety of products."
Businesses supplying products not covered by mandatory standards don't have to perform safety checks before selling them
Currently, only some products have to be checked by suppliers to ensure they meet national mandatory standards for safety before they're sold in Australia. These include bike helmets, cots and fire extinguishers.
Other products, including toys deemed to pose a significant suffocation risk or items made with harmful materials, are banned from being sold here altogether.
Businesses supplying products not covered by mandatory standards, however, don't have to perform safety checks before selling them to Australian shoppers.
CHOICE expert Antonio Bonacruz regularly tests toys and other items in our accredited labs to ensure they're safe for Australian consumers.
Protections for more products are 'reactive'
Kelly says this means that safety provisions for many products are "reactive", with the law only kicking in when something goes wrong or someone is harmed.
"If a product is unsafe, this is considered a major failure under the Australian Consumer Law and consumers are entitled to a refund or a replacement," he says.
"This doesn't mean that a product will necessarily be recalled [and] doesn't stop unsafe products being sold in the first place."
Product recalls, which is when an item is withdrawn from sale and buyers are encouraged to return it to the retailer or dispose of it, are issued on a regular basis – recent culprits range from novelty clothing and light-up toys to batteries and heaters.
Mandatory safety standards are only introduced, the ACCC says, when evidence shows there is a "high risk" of serious injury, illness or death related to a product.
General safety provision needed
Investigations and campaigns by CHOICE have helped result in product recalls and new safety measures, such as for button batteries, being added to Australia's raft of mandatory standards.
But Kelly says CHOICE now wants to see the federal government institute a "general safety provision" covering all products sold in Australia.
"[This] would make it illegal for businesses to sell unsafe products in the first place and place obligations on businesses to ensure that all products are safe before they're sold," he explains.
Products like vaporisers can cause burns from hot steam, yet there's no mandatory standard
CHOICE deputy director of campaigns Andy Kelly
Kelly says the provision would help protect consumers from products that can cause injury, but aren't currently covered by any mandatory safety standards.
"Products like vaporisers can cause burns from hot steam, yet there's no mandatory standard," he explains.
In our recent survey, 93% of respondents said they thought it was important that businesses have a legal obligation to make sure their products are safe before they sell them.
But Kelly says until such a measure comes into force, shoppers stocking up for Christmas should "be wary that the products they're purchasing may not be safe".
How to avoid dangerous products this Christmas
Here are tips on how to make safer choices when buying presents this Christmas, informed by some of our latest investigations and tests:
- Check if a product has been recalled by searching for it on Product Safety Australia's website.
- Avoid buying children's toys, baby safety items and electronics from cheap overseas websites. We've seen many of these items fail Australian safety standards.
- Beware of using AI (artificial intelligence) such as ChatGPT for product suggestions. Popular chatbots have recommended goods we've found to be unsafe.
- If an item contains button batteries, make sure they're properly secured. These small batteries can be deadly to children if swallowed, and we've seen several products missing important features designed to help prevent kids accessing them.
- Keep up to date with CHOICE reviews and our regular rundowns of products to avoid to stay informed of any unsafe items.
- Learn how to spot a fake review. These can be used to spruik dodgy products.
- Check which products are banned in Australia to ensure you don't end up buying one of these from an overseas supplier.
*CHOICE Consumer Pulse September 2024 is based on an online survey designed and analysed by CHOICE. 1024 Australian households responded to the survey with quotas applied to ensure coverage across all age groups, genders and locations in each state and territory across metropolitan and regional areas. The data was weighted to ensure it is representative of the Australian population based on the 2021 ABS Census data. Fieldwork was conducted from the 5–18 of September 2024.
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With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
