Australia’s button battery laws regard these small cells as potentially lethal for children, and impose safety standards. These rules include secure battery compartments for devices containing them, warning notices on child-proof packaging, and supplier testing. The New Daily reports how two Australian companies received fines for battery button products that broke the self-regulation rule.
Battery Button Products Alluring to Children Attract Fines
“Button batteries are extremely dangerous for young children and tragically, children have been seriously injured or died from swallowing or ingesting them.” So said Australian Consumer and Competition Commission deputy chair Catriona Lowe Monday in a statement.
- The first of two prominent Australia retailers apparently failed to test two products to ensure safety, which subsequently complied.
- While the second overlooked this requirement in the case of four toys, none of which may have passed the safety rules.
Failing to meet the self-imposed test allowed unregulated battery button products into a market, far too large to police individually.
More Information About the Products Under Review
The first range of products subject to fines totaling Au$133,200, were pumpkin, cat, and skull-themed toys containing batteries. Some 7,720 of these penetrated the market over 2 months so the average penalty was Au$17.25 each.
The second series were pumpkin-shaped, and illuminated on demand using LED’s. The store sold some 20,768 of them over 3 months. Their fine was Au106,550 or an average fine of Au$5.13 each.
How the Fines Varied for These Button Battery Products
We fail to find logic between the two average penalties. The company that paid the higher average rate failed to test the products although they later met standards. Compared to this, the other company’s four ‘probably would have complied if tested’, but it did withdraw the products voluntarily.
The size of the lithium battery market makes manufacturer and supplier self-testing the only viable option for consumer protection. We hope these court decisions encourage compliance, for the sake of our safety and especially our children.
More Information
Australian Mandatory Button Battery Standard
