Companies behaving badly? – Product safety
On 13 July 2018, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair, Rod Sims, delivered a speech at the 2018 Giblin Lecture on the poor behaviours the ACCC has seen from companies.
This is an edited extract of Mr Sims’ speech, with additional…
Regulation commencement dates
“The regulation takes effect on 1 January.”
“So, who will be at work to implement this? Or to enforce it?”
and
“What work is needed during December to gear up for implementation?”
1…
Paradigm shift needed for product safety in Australia
Last year I attended one of the rare product safety seminars held in Australia. At that event, participants were tasked with identifying ways product safety practitioners can work effectively in a competitive commercial environment. Contrary…
Product safety training
Staff working in consumer product safety have to apply complex technical standards to a vast range of products – toys, nursery products, cookware, car jacks, electrical appliances and so on.
They need to understand and work with legislative…
Disregard for consumer safety and the law
Record fines for breaching the product safety laws have been ordered in the Federal Court. Findings showed Thermomix's clear disregard for consumer safety and the law. Well done to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for taking…
ACCC on product safety – policy and priorities
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised the profile of product safety over the past month. Following its work on the massive compulsory recall of Takata airbags, the ACCC has taken some key steps to promote the cause…
Is your electric kettle safe? A lesson for all product suppliers
We all want to feel assured our kettles will hold themselves together when we're making a nice cup of tea. A handle coming away from a kettle full of scalding hot water is an obvious hazard - scald injuries can be very serious.
There…
Product safety in the Internet of Things
The 'Internet of Things'. Yes, it's a strange term. 'Internet' - yes. 'Things' - yes. But together?
The 'Internet of Things' is the term that's being used for all the interconnected devices appearing on the market. An increasing number…
30 years in product safety
October 2017 marks 30 years that I have worked in consumer product safety. I enjoyed 25 years in government consumer agencies and I now run my own product safety advocacy and consultancy business.
Much has changed in that time.
My…
Product recall costs revealed
Patties' frozen berry case in the courts
This case provides a good insight into the costs associated with product recalls.
In 2015, Australian leading frozen food supplier, Patties was forced to recall Nanna’s and Creative…