Australia’s competition and consumer regulator, the ACCC, has published updated Product Safety Mandatory Reporting Guidelines, dated July 2026. The guidelines clarify when suppliers, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and service providers, must report a death, serious injury, or serious illness linked to a consumer good or product-related service. Reports must be filed within two business days of becoming aware of a reportable incident, and the obligation applies to overseas suppliers selling into Australia just as it does to domestic ones. Non-compliance carries both criminal and civil penalties, making this update essential reading for anyone selling consumer products in the Australian market.
Who Must Comply With Australia's Mandatory Reporting Requirements
The mandatory reporting obligation reaches broadly across the supply chain:
- Manufacturers
- Importers
- Distributors and retailers
- Providers of product-related services
- Overseas suppliers selling to Australian consumers, whether the incident occurs in Australia or abroad
The guidelines note that any employee or representative of a supplier who becomes aware of a reportable incident can trigger the company’s reporting obligation, not just a dedicated compliance team.
The Three-Part Test for a Reportable Incident
A report is required only when all three of the following conditions are met:
- Supplier status: The business supplied a consumer good or a product-related service
- Awareness: The business becomes aware that a death, serious injury, or serious illness has occurred
- Causation: The business, or another party, considers that the incident was caused, or may have been caused, by the use or reasonably foreseeable misuse of the product
Importantly, the causation standard only requires that the product was a possible cause, not necessarily the sole or proven cause.
What Counts as a "Serious" Injury or Illness Under the Guidelines
To meet the reporting threshold, an injury or illness must involve both an acute, sudden onset and medical or surgical treatment by a doctor or nurse. Treatment that qualifies includes:
- Dressing of a wound
- A prescription
- Stitches
- Surgery
Treatment provided by paramedics, physiotherapists, or dentists does not meet the threshold on its own, and the aggravation of a pre-existing condition is excluded from the definition.
Reporting Timeframe and Submission Process
Suppliers have 2 business days from becoming aware of a reportable incident to submit a report through the ACCC’s online webform. No prior verification of the incident is required before reporting, and suppliers can submit updated information after the initial report if new details emerge. Where multiple parties in a supply chain are aware of the same incident, they may designate a single agent to submit one report on everyone’s behalf.
Exemptions and Voluntary Reporting
Incidents that are already reportable to another authority under a specified law or industry code do not need to be separately reported under these guidelines. Online marketplaces are encouraged, but not required, to report incidents they become aware of. The ACCC also encourages voluntary reporting of near-misses or incidents where the available information does not clearly meet the mandatory threshold, and confirms that submitting a report does not amount to an admission of liability. Reported information is treated confidentially, with the ACCC only publishing aggregated, de-identified data.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
Australia
Certification Body: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Local Representative
In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required
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