The Australia Government has published Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard and Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information StandarOn and after 22 June 2022, consumer goods containing button/coin batteries shall comply with the Regulations.

The following are the highlight:

A.Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard

Scope

This Regulation shall apply to consumer goods containing a button/coin battery, which:

1. The battery is installed, or is to be installed, in the consumer goods to power the consumer goods; or

2. The consumer goods are designed to store such batteries.

However, the followings shall not be applied to this Regulation:

1. Consumer goods that were first supplied to a consumer before 22 June 2022;

2. Consumer goods supplied in a one-off transaction by a supplier who has acquired the goods as a consumer;

3. Hearing aids;

4. Equipment to which all of the following apply:

1. the equipment is intended to be used in trades, professions or industries;
2. the equipment is not intended for sale to the general public;
3. the equipment is not intended to be used where children are present;

5. Consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries that are soldered in place if:

1. the consumer goods are electrical and electronic equipment within the field of audio, video, information and communication technology; or
2. the consumer goods are business and office machines with a rated voltage not exceeding 600 volts.

Requirements

1. The button/coin battery (replaceable or not) in the consumer goods shall not release during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions.

2. The button/coin battery compartment for replaceable battery consumer goods shall be designed to ensure that the compartment is resistant to be opened by young children.

3. If the button/coin battery compartment door or cover is secured by screws or similar fasteners, the screws or fasteners shall be captive and remain with the door or cover.

4. If the button/coin battery in the consumer goods is not replaceable and accessible by the consumer, the consumer goods shall meet the requirements in section 6.4 of UL 4200A.

5. To meet the above requirements, the consumer goods shall be tested with specified clauses of the following standards:

1. AS/NZS 62368.1:2018
2. AS/NZS 62115:2018
3. AS/NZS 8124.1:2019
4. AS/NZS 60065:2018
5. IEC 62368-1:2018
6. IEC 62115:2017
7. ISO 8124.1:2019
8. AS/NZS 60598.1:2017
9. UL 4200A

B.Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard

Scope

This Regulation shall apply to consumer goods containing a button/coin battery, which:

1. The battery is installed, or is to be installed, in the consumer goods to power the consumer goods; or

2. The consumer goods are designed to store such batteries.

However, the followings shall not be applied to this Regulation:

1. Consumer goods that were first supplied to a consumer before 22 June 2022;

2. Consumer goods supplied in a one-off transaction by a supplier who had acquired the goods as a consumer;

3. Equipment to which all of the following apply:

1. the equipment is intended to be used in trades, professions or industries;
2. the equipment is not intended for sale to the general public;
3. the equipment is not intended to be used where children are present;

4. Consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries that are soldered in place if:

1. the consumer goods are electrical and electronic equipment within the field of audio, video, information and communication technology; or
2. the consumer goods are business and office machines with a rated voltage not exceeding 600 volts.

Labelling Requirements

General warning and statements

1. The international recognized safety alert symbol ( ) shall be marked clearly visible, prominent and legible on the front panel of the packaging.

2. The following warning and statements shall be marked clearly visible, prominent and legible in instruction:

1. an alert word (such as DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION) with the letters of the alert word in upper case;
2. an internationally recognized safety alert symbol ( );
3. a statement to the effect that the battery is hazardous and is to be kept away from children (whether the battery is new or used);
4. if the battery is a lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause severe or fatal injuries in 2 hours or less if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
5. if the battery is a non-lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause serious injuries if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
6. advice to the effect that medical attention should be sought immediately if it is suspected the battery has been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body.

3. If instruction is provided in consumer goods with lower risk profile*, it shall contain the above warning and statements mentioned in point 2 only.

*: Consumer goods with lower risk profile are:

• the consumer goods are hearing aids;
• the battery is fully enclosed in the consumer goods;
• the battery is not intended to be removed or replaced by a consumer;
• a specialist is required to install or remove the battery.

4. Warnings shall comply with the requirements of size and legibility of product safety labels and durability of product safety label mentioned in clause D.5 and clause D.7 of ISO 3864-2:2016.

Recommendation of labelling

1. Consumer goods containing a button/coin battery is recommended to be marked with the following warning:

1. the warning is clearly visible, durable and remains legible for the expected life of the goods;
2. the warning is located on or close to where the battery is accessible;
3. the warning includes an internationally recognized safety alert symbol;
4. if space on the consumer goods permits - the warning includes:
   1. an alert word (such as DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION) with the letters of the alert word in upper case; and
   2. a statement to the effect that the battery is hazardous and is to be kept away from children (whether the battery is new or used);

1. if space on the consumer goods permits and the battery is a lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause severe or fatal injuries in 2 hours or less if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
2. if space on the consumer goods permits and the battery is a non-lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause serious injuries if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body

2. The packaging of consumer goods containing a button/coin battery is recommended to be marked with the following warnings:

1. an alert word (such as DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION) with the letters of the alert word in upper case;
2. a statement to the effect that the battery is hazardous and is to be kept away from children (whether the battery is new or used);
3. if the battery is a lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause severe or fatal injuries in 2 hours or less if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
4. if the battery is a non-lithium button/coin battery - a statement to the effect that the battery can cause serious injuries if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
5. advice to the effect that medical attention should be sought immediately if it is suspected the battery has been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body.

3. For consumer goods containing button/coin batteries supplied with electronic platform, the following warnings are recommended to be included in the goods’ description provided by the platform:

1. an alert word (such as DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION) with the letters of the alert word in upper case;
2. a statement to the effect that the battery is hazardous and is to be kept away from children (whether the battery is new or used);
3. if the battery is a lithium button/coin battery—a statement to the effect that the battery can cause severe or fatal injuries in 2 hours or less if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
4. if the battery is a non-lithium button/coin battery—a statement to the effect that the battery can cause serious injuries if it is swallowed or placed inside any part of the body;
5. advice to the effect that medical attention should be sought immediately if it is suspected the battery has been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body.

4. The following warnings are recommended to be supplied:

1. advises to the effect that, if it is suspected the battery has been swallowed or otherwise placed inside any part of the body, a person should contact the Australian Poisons Information Centre immediately for 24/7 fast, expert advice; and
2. includes the phone number for the Australian Poisons Information Centre.

5. Consumer goods containing a button/coin battery are recommended to contain the statement about how to safely dispose of the battery.

Note:

• Button/coin battery: a small, single cell battery with a diameter greater than the battery’s height.
• International recognized safety alert symbol: a suitable example includes a combination of symbol ISO 7010-W001 and symbol IEC 60417-6367.
• AS/NZS 62368.1:2018 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements
• AS/NZS 62115:2018 Electric toys - Safety
• AS/NZS 8124.1:2019 Safety of Toys Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties
• AS/NZS 60065:2018 Audio, video and similar electronic apparatus-Safety requirements
• AS/NZS 60598.1:2017 Luminaires Part 1: General requirements and tests
• IEC 62368-1:2018 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements
• IEC 62115:2017 Electric toys - Safety
• ISO 8124.1:2019 Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties
• UL 4200A UL: Standard for Safety for Products Incorporating Button or Coin Cell Batteries of Lithium Technologies
• ISO 3864-2:2016 Graphical symbols -Safety colours and safety signs - Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels

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