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25 Feb

Nation-leading safety and information standards for lithium-ion battery products now in effect.

Published: 19 February 2025

Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading

The first stage of nation-leading product safety standards and an Australia-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles are now in effect, cementing NSW as Australia’s leading jurisdiction for the regulation of lithium-ion powered e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar products.

The Minns Labor Government has introduced two separate standards to reduce the risks posed by the products, which are increasingly being linked to fires if they are built with low quality components or are used or charged incorrectly.

According to the latest Fire and Rescue NSW data, e-micromobility vehicles caused 193 fires between 2022 and 2025, with the rate of fires caused by these devices continuing to rise each year.

E-micromobility Safety Standards: Stage One in effect from 1 February 2025

The prescribed safety standards ensure e-micromobility vehicles, their associated batteries and chargers are built with safe and compliant components, so consumers are better protected from fire risk.

Since 1 February this year, all retailers and manufacturers can only sell e-micromobility devices in NSW with components that comply with the newly prescribed safety standards.

In 2025 NSW Fair Trading will be conducting education-focussed compliance activities for the first stage of safety standards, to ensure traders know their responsibilities under the new rules.

Compliance officers will start the first phase of education-focussed compliance activities from 24 February 2025.

Further standards for e-micromobility vehicles on mandatory testing and certification as well as mandatory labelling requirements come into effect in August 2025 and February 2026 respectively.

When these standards come into effect, businesses selling non-compliant e-micromobility vehicles will be subject to penalties of up to $825,000.

For more information on the e-micromobility product safety standards please visit the webpage on new standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-micromobility devices.

E-micromobility Information Standard: In effect from 19 February 2025

To complement the safety standards the Minns Labor Government has also introduced a new Australian-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles.

Information Standards regulate what guidance and warnings are provided to consumers about goods and services, keeping them informed of products’ risks and how they can be avoided.

The new information standard will cover product safety information, fire safety and emergency procedures, product end of life and storage, as well as electrical safety and advice on road rules*.

To provide businesses time to comply with the new information standard, NSW Fair Trading will focus on educating retailers about their responsibilities in the first six months of compliance activities.

From 1 August 2025, if the new e-micromobility information standard is not provided at point of sale, retailers could be subject to penalties of up to $5,500 for each breach.

For more information on the e-micromobility information standards please visit the webpage on lithium-ion battery safety.

 

The first stage of nation-leading product safety standards and an Australia-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles are now in effect, cementing NSW as Australia’s leading jurisdiction for the regulation of lithium-ion powered e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar products.

The Minns Labor Government has introduced two separate standards to reduce the risks posed by the products, which are increasingly being linked to fires if they are built with low quality components or are used or charged incorrectly.

According to the latest Fire and Rescue NSW data, e-micromobility vehicles caused 193 fires between 2022 and 2025, with the rate of fires caused by these devices continuing to rise each year.

E-micromobility Safety Standards: Stage One in effect from 1 February 2025

The prescribed safety standards ensure e-micromobility vehicles, their associated batteries and chargers are built with safe and compliant components, so consumers are better protected from fire risk.

Since 1 February this year, all retailers and manufacturers can only sell e-micromobility devices in NSW with components that comply with the newly prescribed safety standards.

In 2025 NSW Fair Trading will be conducting education-focussed compliance activities for the first stage of safety standards, to ensure traders know their responsibilities under the new rules.

Compliance officers will start the first phase of education-focussed compliance activities from 24 February 2025.

Further standards for e-micromobility vehicles on mandatory testing and certification as well as mandatory labelling requirements come into effect in August 2025 and February 2026 respectively.

When these standards come into effect, businesses selling non-compliant e-micromobility vehicles will be subject to penalties of up to $825,000.

For more information on the e-micromobility product safety standards please visit the webpage on new standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-micromobility devices.

E-micromobility Information Standard: In effect from 19 February 2025

To complement the safety standards the Minns Labor Government has also introduced a new Australian-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles.

Information Standards regulate what guidance and warnings are provided to consumers about goods and services, keeping them informed of products’ risks and how they can be avoided.

The new information standard will cover product safety information, fire safety and emergency procedures, product end of life and storage, as well as electrical safety and advice on road rules*.

To provide businesses time to comply with the new information standard, NSW Fair Trading will focus on educating retailers about their responsibilities in the first six months of compliance activities.

From 1 August 2025, if the new e-micromobility information standard is not provided at point of sale, retailers could be subject to penalties of up to $5,500 for each breach.

For more information on the e-micromobility information standards please visit the webpage on lithium-ion battery safety.

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22 Oct

3G mobile network switch off in Australia is underway. Vodafone/TPG switched off their 3G network in December 2023. Telstra & Optus have announced their switch off will be 28 October 2024.

3G mobile network switch off

 

The switch off of the 3G mobile networks in Australia is underway, are you and your products prepared?

The 3G mobile networks are in the process of being switched off. Vodafone/TPG switched off their 3G network in December 2023. Telstra and Optus have announced their switch off will be 28 October 2024.

After the switch off dates, any mobile devices that are 3G only will be unable to connect to the mobile networks. Any mobile devices that rely on 3G for emergency calls will not be able to contact emergency services. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has recently published a news article about the 3G shutdown and medical products.

So that your products are not affected by the switch off, you should ensure your mobile devices use 4G (or 5G) telecom modules. Information on the shutdown is available on the Telstra website.

CBA is a JASANZS accredited Telecoms Certification Body and can assess the existing test reports for your mobile device for compliance with the ACMA’s telecoms customer equipment requirements.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations and provide accredited telecoms certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on 61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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17 Sep

ACCC information on Environmental and sustainability claims

Environmental and sustainability claims –

  • Environment and sustainability claims must be truthful and accurate.
  • You should have reasonable grounds for making representation about future events.
  • Businesses have responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law not to make false or misleading claims.
  • A business needs to consider the claims it uses. It also needs to consider the information that’s left out and the visual elements, colours and logos used.
  • ‘Greenwashing’ is where a business uses any claim, or omits key information, that makes a product or service seem better or less harmful for the environment than it really is.

For further information please visit the ACCC website information Environmental and sustainability claims

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22 Jul

Overseas testing to Telecoms mobile device standards – accredited testing laboratory overseas

Are you looking for an accredited testing laboratory overseas to test your telecoms mobile device?

To issue a JASANZ accredited TECS CB Statement and Certificate for a voice capable mobile device, we need you to provide us with an accredited test report to AS/CA S042.1:2022.

It can be difficult to find a testing laboratory overseas that is accredited to AS/CA S042.1:2022 and is capable of acoustic safety and emergency call testing.

Ke Mei Ou Lab Corp (KMO) are located in Shenzhen, China, and have been providing accredited acoustic safety testing to AS/CA S042.1 for a number of years.

Recently KMO had their telecoms testing accreditation updated and they are now accredited to test to AS/CA S042.1:2022 (including emergency call testing by simulating the mobile networks for Australia), AS/CA S042.4:2022, and AS/CA S042.5:2022.

In cooperation with KMO, you can now get accredited AS/CA S042 testing by KMO in China, and then CBA, as part of the TECS CB Statement process, will review the KMO reports and do some verification checks of your product on the live networks in Australia.

If you are looking for accredited telecoms testing in China, please contact KMO at kmo@kmolab.com to discuss your requirements.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations and provide accredited telecoms certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on 61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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08 Jul

Review of the Regulatory Framework for the Safety of Household Electrical Products

Published by ACCC

On 1 December 2023, Treasurers across Australia at the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) agreed to review the national, state and territory electrical safety frameworks for household electrical consumer products.

Australia’s existing system for the safety of household electrical consumer products (low voltage and extra low voltage) is primarily made up of different state and territory laws administered and enforced by the electrical safety regulators in each jurisdiction. The existing system has protected consumers from unsafe products for many years, but, over time, inconsistencies and regulatory gaps have arisen. These issues impede the system’s national operation and ability to respond to emerging safety risks posed by new technologies.

The review is being conducted through a partnership between the Australian Government Department of Finance and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in consultation with states and territories. As part of this work, a Reform Action Plan will be developed, identifying areas for improvement for consideration by ministers responsible for electrical safety ahead of CFFR decision in the second half of 2024.

The review of the existing regulatory framework for household consumer electrical products (low voltage and extra low voltage) seeks to improve or maintain safety levels while ensuring regulation is fit for purpose, efficient and effective. This includes resolving inconsistencies and closing regulatory gaps to achieve national harmonisation.

The review will focus on 6 core priorities

  1. support the transition to net zero by identifying ways to maintain and strengthen consumer and business confidence in the safety of more energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies
  2. review suitability for increased international standards uptake that maintain or improve safety while not reducing ability of regulators to act on identified safety issues so as to maintain or improve protection of the community
  3. achieve national adoption of the Electrical Equipment Safety System to provide consistent pre-market controls and to reduce regulatory burden on businesses
  4. achieve appropriate regulatory coverage of extra-low voltage products
  5. enhance national Ministerial oversight and decision-making to ensure arrangements remain aligned, regulators are supported in their roles and align with expectations of electrical safety Ministers, including when products have been supplied nationally or by international suppliers
  6. achieve uniform compulsory recall powers for all states and territories to access that are supported by efficient and effective frameworks.

The review is conducting limited targeted consultations with business and consumer stakeholders, and can be contacted at electricalsafetytaskforce@accc.gov.au

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14 Nov

NSW Fair Trading provides advice notice on Electrical Safety Certification for products with detachable plug portions.

NSW Fair Trading has provided a reminder notice to the Recognised External Accreditation Scheme (REAS) Certification Bodies, which includes CBA. The notice is to remind certifiers that there are some complexities with electrical articles with integral supply pins that are also supplied with detachable plug portions.

Allowed type: The above electrical article (power supply part) does not have any integral supply pins, and therefore does not trigger AS/NZS 3112 appendix J. However, once the Australian Plug Face is attached to the power supply, then AS/NZS 3112 appendix J is required.

Not allowed type: The above electrical article (power supply part) has integral supply pins that need to comply with AS/NZS 3112 appendix J. It does not comply with appendix J, regardless of any other detachable plug portions or travel adaptors also included with the electrical article at the time of sale.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations and provide accredited safety certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on 61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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29 Sep

Private wireless networks and Australian equipment requirements – even if the network is a private network, the equipment used on the network may need to comply with mandatory standards before the equipment can be supplied or used in Australia.

The ACMA recently published a market study on Private Wireless networks using 4G or 5G. The paper identifies developments in private wireless networks in Australia and some of the issues that need to be considered.

The paper also discusses the factors relevant to deploying 5G private wireless networks and includes 5 case studies of private networks in Australia that are outside of the mining and resources sector.

It is important to note that even if the network is a private network, the equipment used on the network may need to comply with mandatory standards before the equipment can be supplied or used in Australia.

What are the requirements?

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the Australian Government regulator for telecommunications and radiocommunications. The ACMA has a range of equipment regulations that may apply.

The ACMA’s labelling notices and equipment rules place obligations on the importer (in Australia) of the equipment into Australia, or the manufacturer (in Australia) of the equipment that must be met before the equipment is able to be supplied in Australia.

The obligations in the labelling notices include the requirement to ensure the equipment complies with applicable standards, keeping records that demonstrate compliance, to register on the national database as a supplier and to label the equipment to show it complies.

There are two labelling notices and a set of general equipment rules by the ACMA which specify obligations for suppliers of equipment. It is possible that both labelling notices and the general equipment rules could apply to the supplier of the same piece of equipment.

The ACMA labelling notices and equipment rules will specify which standards your equipment must comply with.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations, as well as providing accredited safety and telecommunication certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on +61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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25 Sep

Electrical safety certification for power supplies and battery chargers – EESS updated Information Bulletin V2.0 related to the certification requirements and correct standards.

The EESS regulator has finally released their updated Information Bulletin V2.0 related to the certification requirements and correct standards needed for AC Adaptors, power supplies and battery chargers supplied to the Australian market.

The latest Information Bulletin lists general certification requirements that cover all types of power supplies and battery chargers as well as additional specific requirements and standards that apply to either power supplies or battery chargers. The full text of the Information Bulletin is available here.

What remains unchanged is that AC Adaptors, power supplies and battery chargers supplied for household or personal use are classified as Risk Level 3 that require mandatory safety certification and Level 3 equipment registration on the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) database. They also need to be marked with the approval number, for example ABC-XXXXXX-EA as required in NSW in addition to the RCM marking.

Requirements for EMC compliance under Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) regulations and energy efficiency testing and registration under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) rules also apply.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations and provide accredited safety certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on 61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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28 Aug

Why do lithium-ion batteries catch fire? Lithium battery fires are caused by a chemical reaction inside the battery that produces an intense flame that is hard to extinguish and produces toxic gases.

Firefighters say they fear being ‘“overwhelmed” by increasing numbers of battery fires. There is a growing concern about the rate of lithium battery fires.

Lithium battery fires are caused by a chemical reaction inside the battery that produces an intense flame that is hard to extinguish and produces toxic gases.

Lithium-ion batteries, although great for our lifestyle, pose a fire risk if damaged, are used incorrectly or are not maintained.

Fire Rescue Victoria implore people to use reputable brands in line with manufacturer specifications.

As of July 2023, firefighters in Western Australia had responded to 32 battery lithium fires and in the ACT eight fires were attributed to e-scooter batteries in Canberra.

People should take precautions about how and when they charge lithium batteries, including avoiding overcharging them, avoiding flammable locations like a bed and using reputable brands.

Non-rechargeable or disposable lithium batteries, or lithium metal batteries should also be treated with caution as they can expel molten flammable metal and emit toxic gasses during a fire. Small fires involving single use, disposable lithium batteries should be treated as a Lithium-ion battery fire.

 

NSW Fire and Rescue has published detailed information on its website outlining precautions that can be taken.

 

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10 Aug

Electrical safety certification for power tools and battery chargers – before supplying power tools in Australia, importers & distributors need to be aware that there are laws & regulations they must comply with such as electrical safety certification.

Electrical safety certification for power tools and battery chargers

The Australian marketplace offers access to a wide variety of power tools available for use by laypeople in a domestic or DIY setting. Australian law protects consumers against injury and property damage caused by electrical devices. Before supplying power tools in Australia, importers and distributors need to be aware that there are laws and regulations they must comply with such as electrical safety certification.

Many power tools, for example portable or handheld consumer tools used for machining, drilling, sawing, or surface preparation require mandatory safety certification and equipment Level 3 registration on the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) database. This also applies to any supplied battery chargers for the consumer or DIY market. Such Level 3 power tools and battery chargers need to be marked with the approval number, for example ABC-XXXXXX-EA as required in NSW in addition to the RCM marking.

Failure to have power tools or accessories properly safety tested and certified can lead to costly market recalls and result in failures such as property damage or risk of electric shock which can cause serious injury or death. ACCC’s Product Safety Australia webpage contains useful safety advice related to the safety of power tools, Li-ion batteries and many other products and also includes information about market recalls. Some recent recalls examples are: battery charger, workshop wall fan, mitre saw.

In addition to safety certification, tools that include button or coin batteries are also subject to safety and information standards mandated by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) since June 2022.

What can I do to get assistance?

CBA can assist you with meeting your regulatory obligations and provide accredited safety certification.

If you would like to know more on how CBA can assist you with your regulatory requirements, please contact us on 61 2 9099-1557 or email Gunther at gtheisz@certificationbody.com.au or Colin at cpayne@certificationbody.com.au.

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