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 competitiveness.

Furnishing products can be found in public and private spaces and each environment will have unique Standards requirements and may also share Standards requirements.

The AFA can assist you with identifying the Standards required for your needs. Enquire HERE

CONSUMERS:

You have the RIGHT to BUY SAFE Products. You also have the right to a refund if a furnishing product is unsafe and can seek compensation for damages and loss caused by a safety defect in products supplied by a supplier, manufacturer, or the importer of the product.

The Australian Consumer Law contains a range of protections to help ensure that the furniture products you buy are safe. Want to know your rights? READ MORE HERE

Find an AFA Retailer Member HERE

DESIGNERS:

Consumers, Suppliers, Architects, Specifiers, Manufacturers and Distributors will have varying degrees of adherence to Standards in their briefs to Designers. Value-adding to your design by embedding Standards, testing and certification requirements and referencing regulatory compliance in your design will increase your design’s relevance, market reach and desirability. Buyers will select designs that reduce or minimise risk. Select from AFA’s Designer Members HERE.

SUPPLIERS:

Government Procurement: The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPR’s) underpin the Government’s legal obligations and procurement policy framework. This framework set out officials’ responsibilities, and the processes required for the procurement of products and services under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Changes to the Act outlines Australia’s Government Procurement obligations, and factors that must be considered in meeting the core rules, including adherence to procuring products that must meet Standards and Compliance requirements.

Rules that must be complied with in undertaking procurement are denoted by the term ‘must’. Non-corporate Commonwealth entities must report non-compliance with the rules of the CPRs through the Commonwealth’s compliance reporting process. The AFA has summarised the Rules for the purpose of simplifying the Act for procurement officers, specifiers, designers, architects, manufacturers and suppliers across the Furnishing sector. READ MORE

Find an AFA Supplier Member HERE

Commercial Use: Architects, Designers, Specifiers and Procurement personnel will insist on adherence to any Mandatory Standards required for the supply or installation of Furnishing related products. They also often apply other Non-Mandatory Standards prescribed by the client in order to mininise any risk. Suppliers of Commercial Furniture must also comply with Standards related to Product Safety, OH&S, Warranty and After Care of Furnishing products. Find an AFA Member HERE

Domestic Use: Consumers have the RIGHT to BUY SAFE Products. They also have the right to a refund if a furniture product is unsafe and can seek compensation for damages and loss caused by a safety defect in products supplied by a supplier, manufacturer, or the importer of the product. Find an AFA Member HERE

The Australian Consumer Law contains a range of protections to help ensure that the furniture products purchased by consumers are safe. Want to know your obligations? READ MORE HERE

WHOLESALERS/IMPORTERS:

You are legally responsible for the goods YOU import or distribute.

Are you aware that your business is responsible for any product that you import, sell, supply or distribute? This means that you can be held liable for any defect or other condition that renders the product unsafe and results in injury, death or damage. Importers carry a significant liability risk. Under the Trade Practices Act, Australian law deems importers to be the manufacturer of the goods they import therefore, if you IMPORT a product you are legally liable for any breaches in Product Safety and the Australian Consumer Law.

Consumers have the RIGHT to BUY SAFE Products. They also have the right to a refund if a furniture product is unsafe and can seek compensation for damages and loss caused by a safety defect in products supplied by the importer of the product. The Australian Consumer Law contains a range of protections to help ensure that the furniture products purchased by consumers are safe. Want to know your obligations? READ MORE HERE

Find an AFA Member HERE

RETAILERS:

Consumers have the RIGHT to BUY SAFE Products. They also have the right to a refund if a furniture product is unsafe and can seek compensation for damages and loss from the seller caused by a safety defect in products sold. This includes products sold online or in store. The Australian Consumer Law contains a range of protections to help ensure that the furnishing products purchased by consumers are safe, including any claims of misrepresentation or false warranty claims.

It is highly recommended that Retailers source products from reputable, qualified suppliers of Furnishing Products that comply with Standards, and the regulatory requirements prescribed by the ACCC. Find an AFA Supplier Member HERE

Federal Parliament has increased maximum financial penalties under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Penalties for a breach of the ACL have been raised from $1.1 million for companies to the greater of $10 million, three times the value of the benefit received, or where the benefit cannot be calculated, 10 per cent of annual turnover in the preceding 12 months.

Penalties against individuals under the ACL have increased from $220,000 to $500,000 per breach. Companies will now face more serious financial consequences for breaching consumer law that align with competition law breaches. Want to know your obligations? READ MORE HERE

Find an AFA Retailer Member HERE