APPA places a strong priority on giving members the tools and education they need to ensure all goods sold in the promotional products industry are tested, safe and compliant with the law.
From children's toys and novelties to battery-operated and personal items, we work to make members aware of the hazards and safety risks known to accompany certain products and product categories.
The APPA Code of Conduct sets out the rules and responsibilities all members must follow to retain membership, including mandatory and non-mandatory standards of compliance. APPA is also a member of the Button Battery Taskforce, working in consultation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
A three-module online course developed exclusively for APPA by Gail Greatorex, Owner and Principal of Product Safety Solutions and a former ACCC product safety specialist.
This introductory course covers the key principles and processes to get you up to speed or refresh your knowledge, with accompanying notes so you can learn more at your own pace. It's free for APPA members.
Start the trainingA permanent ban has applied in Australia since 2012 to separable or loose small high-powered magnets supplied in toys, games, puzzles, construction or modelling kits, and jewellery. If swallowed, these magnets can cause life-threatening internal injuries. A separate mandatory safety standard also applies to toys containing magnets.
The ACCC is actively monitoring this area, including magnetic chess and similar games. We urge all members to:
Four mandatory safety and information standards apply to button and coin batteries and to consumer goods that contain them. Introduced by the Federal Government in December 2020, they became mandatory in June 2022 and cover secure battery compartments, child-resistant packaging, and warnings and information.
The standards
ACCC guidance for suppliers
This international standard gives suppliers practical guidance on assessing and managing the safety of consumer products, including how to document risk assessment and risk management to meet applicable requirements. It has been adopted by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.
