Australia · Product safety
Full Court keeps $14 million button-battery penalty in place
The Full Federal Court dismissed City Beach’s appeal against the $14 million penalty for supplying non-compliant button-battery products. The underlying findings covered more than 60 product types supplied on over 54,000 occasions, and the penalty remains in effect.
What this means
Understand the practical effect.
The Full Federal Court dismissed City Beach’s appeal against the $14 million penalty for supplying non-compliant button-battery products. The underlying findings covered more than 60 product types supplied on over 54,000 occasions, and the penalty remains in effect.
What to do
Turn the update into action.
Use a model- and SKU-specific release gate for every product containing a button or coin battery. Verify secure compartments, applicable testing, required warnings and traceable evidence before supply, and block purchasing, listing and replenishment where evidence is incomplete.
- Identify every product, accessory, promotional item and variant containing a button or coin battery.
- Match each exact model or SKU to current safety and information standard evidence, including compartment design, test reports and required warnings.
- Prevent purchasing, listing, supply and replenishment until evidence is verified; do not rely on price, low volume or supplier assurances.
- Maintain variant and change controls, surveillance, incident escalation and recall readiness.
Official sources
Check the controlling material.
Practical support
Apply this update to your business.
Confirm the products, customer journeys, claims, suppliers or processes affected, then identify the evidence, ownership and timing needed for a defensible response.
Watchdog can assess the update against your circumstances and recommend the most useful next step.
Important information
Check the current position.
This update is general information, not legal advice. Laws, official guidance and proceedings can change. Check the current source and your specific facts before acting.