The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has enforced a new mandatory information standard requiring furniture suppliers to provide safety warnings about toppling risks, effective from May 4, according to a Monday statement by the regulator.
The regulation targets tall or unstable furniture items such as bookcases, wardrobes, and entertainment units, following decades of injury and fatalities caused by tip-overs, the statement added.
Under the standard, furniture retailers including Harvey Norman Holdings (ASX:HVN) and Nick Scali (ASX:NCK) must attach permanent warning labels, provide clear hazard warnings in-store and online, and include anchoring instructions in manuals.
The ACCC will monitor compliance alongside state consumer agencies, with penalties of up to AU$50 million for businesses and AU$2.5 million for individuals, the statement added.
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