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

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.

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.

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.

• Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2015 (Telecommunications labelling notice)
• Radiocommunications Labelling (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Notice 2017 (EMC labelling notice)
• Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 (Equipment Rules)

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are things that you can do to prevent an incident involving lithium-ion batteries:

• Only purchase and use devices and equipment from reputable manufacturers and suppliers.
• Only use chargers that are supplied with the equipment or device, or certified third-party charging equipment that is compatible with the battery specifications. Using chargers with incorrect power delivery (voltage and current) can cause damage to the battery including overheating that can lead to fires.
• Check that chargers bear the Regulatory Compliance Mark, to show that it has met the relevant Australian Standards under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS).
• Avoid leaving batteries or devices unattended while being charged or charging overnight. Once the indicator shows that a device or battery has been fully charged, disconnect it from the charger.
• Don’t charge batteries or devices on combustible and insulating surfaces such as beds, sofas or carpet, and keep them away from highly flammable materials such as blankets, clothing, and paper.
• Never use and charge devices such as phones, tablets and e-cigarettes or vaping devices in bed, where they can overheat if you fall asleep.
• Larger batteries and equipment such as power tools and electric scooters should be charged in the garage, shed or carport away from living spaces.
• FRNSW recommends ensuring that a smoke alarm or a heat alarm (where a smoke alarm cannot be installed) is installed in areas where devices are often charged. We recommend having a licenced electrician install and interconnect mains-powered smoke alarms where possible. Check with the manufacturer or distributor to ensure device models are compatible for interconnection.
• Never store or leave batteries and devices in areas where they can be exposed to heat or moisture. Do not leave devices such as phones, computers or charging devices in direct sunlight or in parked vehicles where they can quickly heat up.
• Don’t use batteries or devices that show signs of swelling or bulging, leaking, overheating, or signs of mechanical damage (cracked, dented, punctured, or crushed).

For more information visit Fire Safe NSW.