Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner Steve Griffin is urging NSW suppliers and traders to ensure that battery chargers and other power supplies sold with battery powered  equipment have been approved for use.

Mr Griffin said recent checks by Fair Trading electrical product safety inspectors at Gunnedah’s AgQuip and nearby regional centres had uncovered two unapproved battery chargers.

“One detected at AgQuip was for a remote controlled toy helicopter and the other was for a mobility scooter and found on sale at a retail outlet in Maitland,” he said.

“The trader at AgQuip was issued with a $500 penalty notice as it was a second offence and the shop in Maitland was issued with a warning letter, as theirs was a first offence.

“The company that supplied the unapproved battery charger to the store in Maitland was also issued with a warning.”

Mr Griffin said the products were being sold for use by children in one case and the elderly or disabled in the other, both vulnerable consumer groups.

“Fair Trading inspectors have noticed an increasing number of appliances and equipment are, by reason of innovation, portability and efficiency, powered by batteries,” he said.

Mr Griffin said people in the bush and regions were doing it tough enough and didn’t need the additional hassle of purchasing dodgy or unsafe goods or not getting what they paid for.

“All electrical goods sold in New South Wales must meet the requirements of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 and regulations,” he said. “This legislation covers safe electrical appliances and other electrical goods, with 56 categories mentioned.”

Examples of acceptable electrical safety approval marks are available at this website.

Overseas approval marks are not acceptable in Australia. Retailers are required to ensure goods carry the appropriate safety labels. Penalties of up to $82,500 and/or two years imprisonment for an individual or sole trader and $825,000 for a corporation can be given for breaches of the Act.

Photographs of unapproved items available.

Back to Media releases