ACCC launches 2026/27 product safety priorities

The ACCC’s product safety priorities, alongside its broader enforcement agenda, provide a roadmap for businesses. Last week, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb unveiled the ACCC's latest product safety priorities for 2026/27 at the National Consumer Congress, reinforcing the regulator's commitment to consumer protection in an evolving marketplace.

The announcement forms part of the ACCC's broader strategic agenda for the coming financial year, which has already seen the regulator outline its enforcement priorities and receive a significant boost to its enforcement capabilities through the Federal Budget.

The product safety priorities for 2026-27 include four key product safety areas of focus: e-micromobility safety, mandatory standards, young children, and digital markets.

Suppliers should assess their compliance with mandatory standards, voluntary recalls, and reporting obligations to mitigate regulatory risks. Early engagement remains the best strategy to ensure compliance.

E-micromobility devices

The ACCC's first priority targets safety issues with e-micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters, which have rapidly shifted from novelty recreational items to forms of everyday transport.

This comes after data showing an increase in injuries. For example, in 2025, the Queensland Government reported 14 fatalities and a 23% increase in emergency presentations relating to e-bike or scooter accidents in the State, highlighting the associated dangers. Lithium-ion batteries that power these devices also carry separate risks and continue to be another area of interest for the ACCC.

E-micromobility devices are currently governed by State and Territory legislation. In the recent Federal Budget Papers, the Federal Government allocated $6.6 million over three years to develop national standards focusing on speed, power limits, battery safety, and consumer information.

Mandatory product safety standards

The ACCC will update mandatory standards to align with current international and voluntary Australian standards, reducing compliance complexity for businesses and ensuring consumers benefit from the latest safety advancements.

Protecting young children

The safety of young children remains a priority, with a focus on compliance with mandatory standards for button batteries, infant sleep products and toppling furniture. The ACCC identifies button batteries as a serious hazard – small, easily swallowed by young children, and capable of causing catastrophic injury within hours.

The ACCC has been active in this space in recent years, including by achieving the largest Federal Court penalty to date for breach of mandatory button battery standards against City Beach. It has also reported on recent investigative and in-market action relating to magnetic battle chess products, which are subject to a permanent product ban. The ACCC will aim to identify and address systemic non-compliance through enforcement action to drive broader deterrence and raise consumer awareness.

For toppling furniture and infant sleep products, where updated mandatory standards are relatively recent, the focus will be on promoting compliance and working collaboratively with State and Territory regulators.

Digital markets

This priority area covers all online businesses and is driven by the increasing share of products purchased by Australians online – $82.6 billion was spent shopping online in 2025 alone.

The ACCC's activities will include awareness raising, regulatory intervention and compliance and enforcement, as well as assessing and strengthening commitments under the Product Safety Pledge. The ACCC will continue to work with Australian and international regulators to tackle cross-border sale of unsafe products.

Chair Cass-Gottlieb acknowledged the interest of consumer groups such as CHOICE in online safety for Australian consumers – in fact, CHOICE made a designated complaint to the ACCC early this month focused on the sale of unsafe products online.