LATEST NEWS
Focus on furnishing industry standards now at critical point
Standards are applied to protect buyers, consumers and users. They are used to demonstrate a commitment to the community’s expectation of a safe and sustainable Australia and are recognised as a value-add to Australia’s economic efficiency, trade and international...
Consumers to benefit from increased penalties under Australian Consumer Law
Federal Parliament has increased maximum financial penalties under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). In its final report on the ACL Review, Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) recommended penalties for a breach of the ACL be raised from $1.1 million...
AMAZON & EBAY SUBJECT TO RECALLS OF FURNITURE PRODUCTS – ACTION REQUIRED
A further three furniture product safety recalls have been reported this week, with all three posing a potential choking/suffocation hazard to young children. Concerns are increasing over product that is not only unsafe, but that also does not contain the necessary...
IKEA recall of children’s furniture still on the minds of young families
In recent times the headlines have read ‘IKEA Re-announces recall of MALM and other models of chests and dressers due to serious tip-over hazard; 8th child fatality reported; consumers urged to choose between refund or repair. These headlines have been related to US...
ARE YOU SOURCING OR DISTRIBUTING DANGEROUS FURNITURE?
Fifty Australians a week injured by toppling furniture and televisions. An estimated 2,600 Australians receive hospital treatment for injuries caused by toppling furniture and televisions each year, equating to approximately 50 people per week. Since 2001 at least 22...
Possible azo dye risks associated with exposure to furniture
Recent activity in relation to health concern related to hazardous azo dyes in clothing and bed linen has prompted investigation about possible similar links to textiles and leather in furniture. Coupled with these concerns is the potential exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde from bonded leather on imported furniture.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority whose role is to enforce the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians. The ACCC’s purpose is to make markets work for consumers, now and in the future. The role of the ACCC is to protect, strengthen and supplement the way competition works in Australian markets and industries to improve the efficiency of the economy and to increase the welfare of Australians.
The ACCC will take action where this improves consumer welfare, protects competition or stops conduct that is anti-competitive or harmful to consumers, and promotes the proper functioning of Australian markets.
The ACCC priorities are reflected in four key goals:
- maintain and promote competition and remedy market failure
- protect the interests and safety of consumers and support fair trading in markets
- promote the economically efficient operation of, use of and investment in monopoly infrastructure
- increase our engagement with the broad range of groups affected by what we do.
Visit the ACCC site HERE.