Australia updates mandatory standards for children's toys

On 5 September 2023, Australia updated the Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023 to replace Consumer Protection Notice No. 14 of 2003, as amended by Consumer Protection No. 1 of 2005. The transition period is 18 months, from 5 March 2025, manufacturers will be required to comply with the updated standard requirements.

Major updates:
1) The updated mandatory standard allows compliance with one of the following standards：
a) AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2023 “Safety of toys – Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties”
b) ISO 8124‑1:2022 “Safety of toys – Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties”
c) EN 71‑1:2014 + A1:2018 “Safety of toys – Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties”
d) ASTM F963‑17 “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety”

2) The mandatory standard requires all toys for children up to and including 36 months of age containing any type of battery to have the battery compartment secured in such a way that it can only be accessed by using a tool. This is based on the potential harm that can come from accessible batteries, as children up to 36 months of age can swallow small parts. Comply with the requirements of Article 13.4.1 "small batteries" of AS/NZS 62115:2018 Safety of Electric Toys。

3) Toy suppliers must note that even if toys are labelled and/or marketed for older children, the mandatory standard may apply if the toys are commonly recognized as being intended or suitable for children under 36 months of age. The mandatory standard provides some guidance on appropriate ages for using toys, referencing officialUnited States age determination guidelines by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

CTT Warm-tips：
Relevant toy companies that export to Australia should pay attention to the update of the mandatory regulations and make corresponding improvement measures before March 2025. CTT has rich experience in product testing, to help you easily understand whether the product safety compliance, welcome to consult.

Original link：https://www.productsafety.gov.au/product-safety-laws/safety-standards-bans/mandatory-standards/toys-for-children-up-to-and-including-36-months-of-age