New Safety Rules: Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024

The Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024 introduces important new obligations for suppliers of certain household furniture in Australia. In response to growing concerns over injuries and fatalities caused by unstable furniture, this standard is part of the federal government’s broader focus on product safety.

Effective from 4 May 2025, the standard applies to free-standing storage furniture such as bookcases, entertainment units, and clothing storage units, hall tables, display cabinets, and other similar items that are over 686 mm in height. It aims to ensure that consumers are properly informed about the toppling risks associated with these products.

Under the standard, suppliers must provide clear warnings about the risks of furniture tipping over. This includes:

• Permanent labels attached to the product, warning of the tip-over hazard.
• Assembly instructions that include information about the risk and recommend anchoring the furniture.
• Point-of-sale information (for both in-store and online sales) clearly advising consumers about the danger and encouraging them to anchor their furniture to a wall.

The standard prescribes requirements for:

• The content, format, and placement of warnings.
• Legibility standards to ensure the warnings are noticeable and understandable.
• Information about anchoring kits, where provided.

Why it matters

Furniture tip-over incidents are a serious risk, particularly for young children. This new information standard empowers consumers to make safer choices and take preventative action after purchase. It also brings Australia in line with international moves towards greater furniture safety regulation.

What suppliers should do now

Businesses that manufacture, import, or sell applicable furniture should:

• Ensure that all applicable furniture items have product labels, instructions, and marketing materials are compliant.
• Train staff on the new requirements.
• Implement processes to regularly check and ensure ongoing compliance with the standard.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has indicated it will closely monitor compliance and take enforcement action where necessary.

Penalties and fines may apply for non-compliance, and suppliers may need to recall products if they do not meet the mandatory standard.

For more guidance on the warnings and other requirements, see the ACCC’s supplier guide.

If you need independent advice about your compliance with the mandatory information standard, then please get in touch with our Corporate & Commercial Team on 03 5273 5271 or by email to info@coulterlegal.com.au.