Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge today urged shoppers to check gas appliances for correct approval marks and reminded NSW retailers that all gas appliances must be certified before they can be sold in the State.

Ms Judge said that with the holiday season approaching, consumers thinking of buying gas powered backyard barbeques and camping gear should first check that the products have the correct certification.

“If they don’t carry the correct labelling they are illegal and could be potentially dangerous,” she said.

Amendments to the Gas Supply Act 2006, which commenced on 3 September this year, consolidated regulatory requirements for the safety of gas appliances and gas installations with NSW Fair Trading.

The new arrangements removed an exemption for gas appliances connected to a 25 litre or smaller gas cylinder.

Ms Judge said this means gas fired barbeques and small camping gas appliances must now be certified to be legally sold.

From this week, Fair Trading inspectors will be visiting retailers across the State to make sure all gas appliances are safe and approved for sale in NSW.

Ms Judge said the compliance checks would increase consumer and trader awareness of the new laws.

“Retailers should contact the manufacturer or importer/distributor for a copy of the approval certificate from the certification body and consumers should look for the correct labels,” she said.

Ms Judge also advised that an LPG cabinet heater, subject to an interim ban by Fair Trading in August this year, was now illegal (photographs below).

“These heaters are captured by the new laws and will not be certified due to their design,” she said.

“They have been the cause of a number of fires in this country and in New Zealand and people should make sure they don’t use them under any circumstances.”

A fact sheet on gas appliance certification, including certification marks, is available in Fair Trading and Government Information Centres and on this website.

Ms Judge urged anyone with knowledge of uncertified gas appliances for sale to contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

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