Red Nose welcomes the introduction of information standards on toppling furniture as mandated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) from May 4, 2025.
The new requirement for suppliers to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture is a positive step in educating both suppliers and consumers in reducing the risks and injuries to young children.
Red Nose’s Director of Prevention, Education and Research, Margaret Polacska strongly supports the requirement for information standards as a vital measure to protect young children from preventable injuries.
“We welcome the requirement for furniture suppliers to provide safety warnings to consumers about the dangers of toppling furniture. It is an approach that we believe will significantly prevent and reduce the injuries and deaths caused from toppling furniture,” Margaret said.
Since 2000, 28 people, including 17 children under five, have died in Australia from toppling furniture, and each year more than 900 Australians suffer injuries requiring medical assistance from toppling furniture. Children aged up to 4 years are most at risk, with older Australians also vulnerable.
The toppling furniture information standard requires suppliers to:
- Attach permanent warning labels to furniture;
- include safety information and advice about anchoring furniture in manuals and assembly instructions; and
- provide warnings about the hazards of toppling furniture in furniture stores and online.
For further information on the new requirements and consumer advice, please visit: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/mandatory-information-standard-for-toppling-furniture-to-reduce-accidents-and-deaths
Media contact: Maria Salvador at mariasalvador@rednose.org.au or call 0402 941 493.