We have an extensive set of electrical safety Acts and regulations, administered by Energy Safety. But how does that apply to retail products? That depends on the type of product.
The underlying principle is all electrical goods must comply with Australian and New Zealand safety standards, or their equivalents. The suppliers of products deemed to have a medium- or high-safety risk are required to complete a "Supplier Declaration of Compliance" (SDoC) before the product is sold. This documentation is audited by Energy Safety.
Our hot-melt glue gun doesn't fall under the medium- or high-risk category, so it can be imported and sold without any safety documentation. But, by law, it still must be safe.
Energy Safety has a range of measures to deal with suppliers and retailers that sell unsafe goods - ranging from written warnings, product recalls and prosecution. The regulations are being amended to allow infringement notices, carrying instant fines, to be issued.
These additional powers will give Energy Safety a means of quickly dealing with transgressors without the expense and delays of bringing cases to court.
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