June, 2022
In Australia, an amended version of Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020 and Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020 were registered at the end of April. The documents apply to consumer goods containing a button or coin battery and button or coin battery themselves respectively.
The Standards were established to improve safety by reducing the ability for children to get access to button/coin batteries.
In the safety standards, mandatory requirements to meet the compliance with the Standards are specified and include the following:
For Consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries
1. The consumer goods must have a secure battery compartment that is resistant to being opened by young children
2. Consumer goods must be secure and not release the batteries
3. For the consumer goods, warnings are required on any packaging and accompanying instructions
4. If the consumer goods are supplied unpackaged, warnings must be attached to the consumer goods themselves
5. Hearing aids are exempt from secure battery requirements but are subject to warning requirements
For Button/coin batteries
1. Packaging is required to be child-resistant for button or coin batteries
2. Any button/coin batteries that are supplied with a consumer good and the battery is not pre-installed, it must be enclosed in child-resistant packaging
3. “Keep Out of Reach of Children” symbol must be indicated on coin batteries with a diameter of 20 mm and above
4. Warnings and information are required on packaging of button/coin batteries.