A guide for retailers and importers

It is important that all electrical goods in NSW are safe to use. If you are involved in selling, importing, hiring or exchanging of electrical goods it is your responsibility to ensure that they are safe to use and will cause no harm.

All electrical goods sold in NSW must meet the requirements of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 and its Regulations. This legislation covers the distribution of safe electrical appliances and other electrical goods. There are 56 categories of electrical equipment mentioned in the legislation.

Electrical equipment in these categories, known as declared articles, must be tested and approved before they can be sold. Declared articles must be approved by NSW Fair Trading, its equivalent in another Australian State or an independent certifier. All other electrical articles (non-declared articles) are required to be safe to use. A brief summary of declared articles is listed below. A comprehensive list, by definition, is available on the Fair Trading website in the document Electrical appliances and equipment requirements for their sale in NSW.

The easiest way to know if an item is approved is to check if it has an approval mark. Approved electrical goods are normally identified by a marking consisting of a capital letter (corresponding to the authorising state or territory) followed by a certificate number. Some small articles may be permitted to use other approval marks (eg. a trade name). Examples of acceptable electrical safety approval marks in NSW are shown in the next column.

Before you accept delivery of, or sell any, electrical goods covered by the Act, make sure your supplier provides you with a copy of a recognised Australian Certificate of Approval.

Overseas Certificates of Approval and approval marks, such as the CE mark, are not acceptable in Australia.

The Act provides for an acquisition guarantee as a defence in a prosecution for certain offences.

Under certain conditions your supplier may guarantee compliance with requirements and may become liable in your stead.

The maximum penalty for selling, importing, hiring or exchanging unmarked or unapproved electrical goods is $82,500 and/or two years imprisonment for an individual or $825,000 for a corporation.

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As of 14 August 2009 the following electrical safety approval marks are acceptable under the Electricity Consumer Safety Act 2004.

Type of approval marks	Example
NSW Approval Number	NSW number on articles approved after 24 February 2005. N number on articles approved before 24 February 2005.
Interstate Approval Numbers	Q number, V number, S number, T number
Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) Note: The N number does not identify a NSW approval. It is a supplier code issued under the RCM provisions.
International Testing & Certification Services Pty Ltd (ACN 098 886 563)	*A/number/**EA
SAI Global Certification Services Pty Ltd (ACN 108 716 669)	*SAI TE**EA number *SAI SMK**EA number
SGS Systems and Services Certification Pty Ltd (ACN 060 156 014)	*SGS**EA number
The Australian Gas Association (ACN 004 206 044)	*AGA number**EA
UL International New Zealand Limited (NZ Incorporation Number 1983441)	*U number**EA

* Identifies the independent certifier.
**The EA denotes the approval of a declared electrical article.

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If you sell, import, hire or exchange electrical goods not listed among the declared articles, you must still ensure they are safe and meet minimum safety requirements. Always check with your supplier to ensure that the items comply. One way of showing that a non-declared article meets the minimum safety requirements is by obtaining a Certificate of Suitability number from Fair Trading. Applications must be made to the Commissioner for Fair Trading including the prescribed fee. You may also be asked to submit a sample for examination.

Fair Trading has the authority to stop the sale of any unsafe electrical goods and make traders recall unsafe electrical goods.

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Accessories

Appliance connectors
Control and conditioning devices
Cord line switches
Fluorescent lamp ballasts and starters
Lampholders – bayonet, edison and adaptors
Miniature overcurrent circuit breakers
Outlet devices
Plugs
Residual current devices (safety switches)
Socket outlets and adaptors
Supply flexible cords
Wall switches

Household appliances

Bread toasters
Clothes dryers
Dishwashers
Fans
Floor polishers/scrubbers
Heaters
Irons
Jugs
Kitchen machines
Liquid heating appliances (includes rice cookers)
Microwave ovens
Portable cooking appliances (includes blenders and frying pans)
Projectors
Ranges and range hoods
Refrigerators/freezers
Sewing machines
Television receivers
Vacuum cleaners
Washing machines

Body appliances

Electric blankets
Flexible heating pads
Hair dryers
Immersion heaters
Massagers
Razors and hairclippers
Waterbed heaters

Outdoor appliances

Fence energisers
Hedge trimmers
Insect electrocutors
Lawn care appliances
Swimming pool and spa equipment

Lighting

Decorative lighting
Inspection headlamps
Portable lamps
Therapeutic lamps
Christmas and festival lights

Power supplies

Battery chargers
Extra low voltage supply

Miscellaneous

Arc welding machines
Power tools
Pressure storage water heaters
Soldering irons

For full details view or download Electrical appliances and equipment requirements for their sale in NSW from the Fair Trading website or call 13 32 20 for a copy.

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