In Australia, button batteries kill three children and seriously injure 44, and more than one child is seriously injured every month by swallowing or inserting batteries used in a wide range of common consumer products such as toys, remote controls, watches, digital kitchen scales and thermometers exist in. If swallowed, it can cause serious injury to children and suppliers must ensure that the relevant products are compliant.

According to the Mandatory Safety and Information Standard, products must have safe battery compartments to keep children out of the battery, and manufacturers must conduct compliance testing, provide child-safe packaging, and place additional warnings and emergency advisories on packaging and instructions. The standard was launched in December 2020 with an 18-month transition period and will be officially enforced on June 22, 2022. Companies that supply button batteries or products containing button batteries that do not meet the mandatory standards could be subject to heavy penalties and recalls.

1. Which products are in the scope of control?

All consumer electronics products are regulated as long as they contain button batteries

2. Is it possible to apply for an exemption?

The official list of exemptions is as follows:

2.1 For professional equipment, such as laboratory equipment, scientific research equipment, products not used for mass consumption and contact.

2.2 For hearing aids or hearing aid accessories

2.3 For commercial or office equipment not exceeding 600V

2.4 Audio and video components containing button batteries are fixed somewhere by welding and cannot be easily removed.

2.5 Products that have been sold in the Australian market before the regulations come into force and are now sold second-hand.

3. Is there a designated laboratory?

Manufacturers or suppliers are best to choose a laboratory with /IEC 17025 qualification for testing, or they can conduct self-testing to ensure that the product testing process is compliant and accurate.

For details, please consult Unitest!

4. What standard?

According to different products, if there is a specific industry product standard, this standard is selected. If there is no specific industry standard, the general standard is recommended.

Currently the Australian official recommendation / UL standard. Usually the IEC standard IEC 60086-4 or IEC 60086-5 can be used.

5. What is the warning?

1. Consumer goods (products containing button/coin cells) must have packaging warnings;

2. Button/coin batteries must have packaging warning signs + keep away from children signs.

Australian officials also recommend that suppliers warn the product in the product manual, list the contact information of the Australian Poisoning Information Center on the package, guidelines on how to safely dispose of batteries, and permanently mark the words "keep away from children" when the product itself allows it.

Unitest is a domestic CNAS, CMA, A2LA, CPSC third-party laboratory! Has EMC laboratory, safety laboratory, chemical laboratory, lighting laboratory, toy laboratory, battery laboratory! It can provide testing services for more than ten kinds of products such as home appliances, information, audio-visual products, wireless and communication products, LED, mobile phones, medical equipment, and mechanical products.

If related products need testing and certification, you can consult Unitest!