I. Background
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has developed mandatory safety standards for button and coin batteries designed to protect consumers from potential hazards. These new standards come into force on June 22, 2022 and require button and coin batteries to meet stringent safety requirements during use.The ACCC will be tasked with enforcing these standards and taking legal action against non-compliant products and manufacturers. Through this initiative, the ACCC aims to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion, choking and other injuries, and to raise public awareness of the safety of button and coin cells. This will help protect consumers from potential hazards and raise awareness of safety issues.
II. Policy
Merchants should be aware of and comply with the four mandatory safety and information standards set by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ensure compliance of their products in the Australian market.
III. Compliance guidelines
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers selling these batteries or products containing these batteries in Australia under the four mandatory safety and information standards set by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) must strictly comply with the relevant Australian mandatory safety and information standards.
(i) Applicable product range
Applicable button/coin batteries include all sizes of lithium chemical button/coin batteries, as well as non-chemical lithium button/coin batteries with diameters of 16 mm or greater.
Applicable consumer products containing button/coin batteries (including any component or accessory of a consumer product containing button/coin batteries), for example:
(a) a battery has been installed or is to be installed in a consumer product to supply it with electricity; or
(b) This consumer product is designed to store such batteries.
(ii) Security and information standards
1. Safety and information standards for button/coin batteries
① Safety standards:
Button/coin batteries must be packaged in child-resistant packaging that meets specified compliance tests. The compliance test must show that the requirements for child-resistant packaging have been met. Where multiple button/coin batteries are supplied, the blister pack must be designed so that only one battery can be removed at a time. Any spare button/coin batteries supplied with a consumer product that are not pre-installed in a secure battery compartment must be packed in child-resistant packaging.
② Information Standards:
Any packaging used to supply button/coin batteries must be clearly labeled with a warning to alert consumers to the dangers posed by these batteries to children and provide clear instructions on what to do if a child is suspected of swallowing or inserting the battery. Button/coin batteries with a diameter of 20 mm or greater must bear the internationally recognized 'keep out of reach of children' mark on the battery itself. The marking must be clearly visible and at least 6 mm in diameter.
An example of the internationally recognized 'keep out of reach of children' logo:
Package warning example for button/coin batteries:
(iii) Exemptions
- Button/coin batteries supplied in large quantities for professional industry use and which are not sold to the public
- Zinc aerochemical button/coin batteries for hearing aids are not required to meet child-resistant packaging requirements, but must comply with warning requirements.
2、Safety and Information Standards for Consumer Products Containing Buttons/Coin Cells
①Safety Standards
Consumer products containing button/coin batteries must meet safe battery requirements and be tested for compliance. The compliance test must show that the safe battery requirements have been met. All consumer products containing button/coin batteries, whether or not the batteries need to be replaced, must be safe and secure so that the batteries will not fall out under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use or misuse. Consumer products containing button/coin batteries that are to be replaced by the consumer must have a secure battery compartment that is safe and secure from being opened by children.
②Information Standards
A warning statement must be included on the packaging of consumer goods containing button/coin batteries and in the accompanying instruction manual. If the consumer goods are supplied unpackaged, or if no instructions are provided with the shipment, a warning must be affixed or added to the consumer goods to alert consumers to the presence of button/coin batteries in the product and to the dangers posed by button/coin batteries to children. The warning must be prominent and clearly visible.
Examples of internationally recognized safety warning signs:
(iii) Exemptions
- Goods supplied to consumers prior to the mandatory implementation of the standards
- Professional equipment, subject to the following criteria:
i. The equipment is designed for use in a trade, professional, or industrial setting;
ii. The equipment is not intended for sale to the general public;
iii. the device is not expected to be used on the premises where the child is located;
- Audio-visual and ICT equipment containing soldered-in button/coin batteries
- Hearing aids that meet the requirements for safe battery retention, subject to warning requirements
(iii) Qualifications and Certification Requirements
Under the four mandatory safety and information standards set by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the standards to be met by applicable products are as follows:
- AUSTRALIAN (AUDIO VIDEO) STANDARD: AS/NZS 62368.1:2018 relating to security requirements for audio-visual, information and communication technology equipment.
- Australian (Electric Toys) Standard : AS/NZS 62115:2018 dealing with safety requirements for electric toys.
- Australian (Toy Safety) Standard: AS/NZS 8124.1:2019, deals with safety requirements relating to mechanical and physical properties in toy safety.
- Standard for Electronic Equipment : AS/NZS 60065:2018 dealing with safety requirements for audio, video and similar electronic equipment.
- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT STANDARD: AS/NZS 60598.1:2017 which deals with the general requirements and testing of lighting equipment.
- INTERNATIONAL (AUDIO-VIDEO) STANDARD: IEC 62368-1:2018 concerning security requirements for audio-visual, information and communication technology equipment.
- International (electric toys) standard: IEC 62115:2017, dealing with safety requirements for electric toys.
- International (toy safety) standard: ISO 8124.1:2019 covering safety requirements relating to mechanical and physical properties in toy safety.
- Lithium technology standard: UL 4200A standard, safety requirements for button or button batteries involving lithium technology.
EN 
ZH_TW 
ZH