AUSTRALIA | Furniture safety has become a main priority for the ACCC, which has officially enforced mandatory supplier safety warnings.
Furniture suppliers are now required to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture after the mandatory information standard for toppling furniture came into effect on 4 May 2025.
Since the year 2000 at least 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia from toppling furniture and televisions.
Each year more than 900 Australians suffer injuries requiring medical assistance from toppling furniture. Children aged up to four years are most at risk, with older Australians also vulnerable.
“A mandatory information standard is a critical step towards reducing the injuries and deaths involving toppling furniture,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“The impact of furniture tip-over can be tragic, with young children and the elderly most at risk. The information standard raises awareness about the risk of furniture tip-over and empowers consumers with the knowledge they need to safeguard their homes.”
The new information standard applies to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and sideboards with a height of 686mm or more, and entertainment units of any height.
If not properly secured, tall or unstable furniture can topple over when young children attempt to climb on them or pull themselves up. Elderly people with reduced strength or mobility are also at greater risk because they are more likely to rely on furniture for support and are more likely to suffer severe injury if furniture tips over.
The information standard requires suppliers to attach permanent warning labels to furniture, provide warnings about the hazards of toppling furniture in stores and online, and include safety information and advice about anchoring furniture in manuals and assembly instructions.
“Suppliers must meet these requirements, and the ACCC will be working with state-based consumer agencies to monitor compliance and take enforcement action if appropriate,” Lowe said.
“Suppliers face serious penalties for non-compliance, with penalties up to AUD 50 million for businesses and AUD 2.5 million for individuals.”
Following a recommendation by the ACCC, the toppling furniture information standard was made by the Assistant Treasurer on 13 April 2024 and registered on 3 May 2024. Suppliers have had a 12-month transition period to implement the new information and labelling requirements.
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