{"id":"F2020L01658","name":"Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020","slug":"consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":130896,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2020L01658-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"## Part 1—Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This instrument is the Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsection 104(1) of the Australian Consumer Law.\n\n> Note: The reference to the Australian Consumer Law is a reference to Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 as it applies as a law of the Commonwealth, States and Territories: see section 140K of that Act and corresponding provisions of Acts of States and Territories applying that Schedule.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> applicable button/coin battery means:\n\n    (a) a small, single cell battery of lithium chemistry with a diameter greater than the battery’s height; or\n    (b) a small, single cell battery of a chemistry other than lithium with:\n    (i) a diameter of 16 mm or greater; and\n    (ii) a diameter greater than the battery’s height.\n\n> application day means the day after the period of 18 months beginning on the day this instrument commences.\n\n> Australian (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard means the Australian Standard AS 5808‑2009 Child‑resistant packaging—Requirement and testing procedures for non‑reclosable packages for non‑pharmaceutical products, published by Standards Australia, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The Australian (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard could in 2020 be purchased from SAI Global’s website (https://www.saiglobal.com). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> Australian (Reclosable Packaging) Standard means the Australian Standard AS 1928‑2007 Child‑resistant packaging—Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packages, published by Standards Australia, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The Australian (Reclosable Packaging) Standard could in 2020 be purchased from SAI Global’s website (https://www.saiglobal.com). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> European (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard means the European Standard EN 862:2016 Packaging‑Child‑resistant packing‑Requirements and testing procedures for non‑reclosable packages for non‑pharmaceutical products, published by the European Committee for Standardization, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The European (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard could in 2020 be purchased from SAI Global’s website (https://www.saiglobal.com). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> hearing aid means medical electrical equipment which picks up sound and delivers processed sound for human hearing.\n\n> International (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard means the International Standard ISO 28862:2018 Packaging—Child‑resistant packaging—Requirements and testing procedures for non‑reclosable packages for non‑pharmaceutical products, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The International (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard could in 2020 be purchased from the International Organization for Standardization’s website (https://www.iso.org). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> International (Reclosable Packaging) Standard means the International Standard ISO 8317:2015 Child‑resistant packaging—Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packages, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The International (Reclosable Packaging) Standard could in 2020 be purchased from the International Organization for Standardization’s website (https://www.iso.org). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> Primary Batteries Standard means the International Standard IEC 60086‑4: 2019 Primary Batteries—Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The Primary Batteries Standard could in 2020 be purchased from SAI Global’s website (https://www.saiglobal.com). The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices, subject to licensing conditions.\n\n> US Poison Prevention Packaging Standard means Subchapter E (Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 Regulations) of Chapter 2 (Consumer Product Safety Commission) of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations, published by the Office of the Federal Register National Archives and Records Administration of the United States of America, as in force or existing at the time when this instrument commences.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application","content":"#### 5 Application\n\n  (1) This instrument applies in relation to applicable button/coin batteries, including such batteries supplied together with other consumer goods.\n  (2) However, this instrument does not apply to:\n    (a) applicable button/coin batteries of zinc‑air chemistry designed for, or intended to be used in, hearing aids; or\n    (b) applicable button/coin batteries supplied in bulk if:\n    (i) the button/coin batteries are supplied with the intention to be used in trades, professions or industries; and\n    (ii) the button/coin batteries are not intended for sale to the general public; or\n    (c) applicable button/coin batteries that have been installed in consumer goods before the consumer goods are supplied.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Requirements","content":"## Part 2—Requirements","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Requirements to be complied with on and after application day","content":"#### 6 Requirements to be complied with on and after application day\n\n  On and after the application day, an applicable button/coin battery’s packaging must comply with the requirements in this Part.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Child accessibility requirements—all packaging types","content":"#### 7 Child accessibility requirements—all packaging types\n\n  Core requirement\n  (1) The packaging of an applicable button/coin battery must be designed to be resistant to being opened by young children.\n\n> Note: There is an additional requirement that applies to applicable button/coin batteries that are packaged in blister packaging (see subsection 8(1)), but both requirements can be satisfied by complying with Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard (see paragraph (2)(a) of this section and subsection 8(2)).\n\n  Testing requirements—non‑reclosable packaging\n  (2) If the applicable button/coin battery is packaged in non‑reclosable packaging, the packaging complies with the requirements in subsection (1) if, and only if:\n    (a) both of the following apply:\n    (i) before the supply of the applicable button/coin battery to a consumer, representative samples of the packaging are tested in accordance with Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard (as modified by section 9);\n    (ii) those samples comply with that Annex; or\n    (b) the packaging complies with clause 3.2.1 of the Australian (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard; or\n    (c) the packaging complies with clause 3.2.1 of the European (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard; or\n    (d) the packaging complies with clause 4.2.1 of the International (Non‑reclosable Packaging) Standard; or\n    (e) the packaging complies with paragraphs 1700.15(a) and (b)(1) of the US Poison Prevention Packaging Standard.\n\n> Note: On request by the regulator, a supplier of applicable button/coin batteries packaged in non‑reclosable packaging may be required to nominate the applicable requirements under subsection (2): see section 108 of the Australian Consumer Law.\n\n  Testing requirements—reclosable packaging\n  (3) If the applicable button/coin battery is packaged in reclosable packaging, the packaging complies with the requirements in subsection (1) if, and only if:\n    (a) both of the following apply:\n    (i) before the supply of the applicable button/coin battery to a consumer, representative samples of the packaging are tested in accordance with Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard (as modified by section 9);\n    (ii) those samples comply with that Annex; or\n    (b) the packaging complies with clause 4.3.1 of the Australian (Reclosable Packaging) Standard; or\n    (c) the packaging complies with clause 3.3.1 of the International (Reclosable Packaging) Standard.\n\n> Note: On request by the regulator, a supplier of applicable button/coin batteries packaged in reclosable packaging may be required to nominate the applicable requirements under subsection (3): see section 108 of the Australian Consumer Law.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Additional child accessibility requirements—blister packaging","content":"#### 8 Additional child accessibility requirements—blister packaging\n\n  Core requirement\n  (1) If one or more applicable button/coin batteries are packaged in blister packaging, the packaging must be designed so that only a single applicable button/coin battery is released at a time.\n\n> Note: This requirement is in addition to the requirement in subsection 7(1) (which applies to all applicable button/coin batteries), but both requirements can be satisfied by complying with Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard (see subsection (2) of this section and paragraph 7(2)(a)).\n\n  Testing requirement\n  (2) The packaging complies with the requirements in subsection (1) if, and only if:\n    (a) before the supply of the applicable button/coin battery to a consumer, representative samples of the packaging are tested in accordance with Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard (as modified by section 9); and\n    (b) those samples comply with that Annex.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Modification of the Primary Batteries Standard","content":"#### 9 Modification of the Primary Batteries Standard\n\n  Annex E of the Primary Batteries Standard is subject to the following modifications:\n    (a) a reference to consumer type coin cells with a diameter of 16 mm and larger is taken to be a reference to applicable button/coin batteries;\n    (b) a reference to each of the following terms is taken to be a reference to an applicable button/coin battery:\n    (i) cell;\n    (ii) coin cell.","sortOrder":9}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: child-resistant packaging for button/coin batteries. The multiple compliance pathways and incorporated standards are mechanisms to achieve this single objective, not scope creep. The exemptions (hearing aids, bulk industrial supply, pre-installed batteries) are narrowly tailored exclusions from a consistent core requirement."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple alternative compliance pathways: 5 different standards referenced for non-reclosable packaging, 3 for reclosable packaging","Extensive defined terms (12 defined terms) including complex technical standards incorporated by reference","Nested conditional logic: core requirements in s 7(1) and s 8(1) with multiple 'if and only if' compliance pathways in subsections (2) and (3)","Modification clause in s 9 that rewrites terminology in an external standard (Annex E of IEC 60086-4:2019)","Temporal complexity with staged commencement (18-month delay before requirements apply)","Cross-references to external standards from 4 different jurisdictions (Australian, European, International ISO, US Code of Federal Regulations)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires button and coin batteries sold in Australia to be secured in child‑resistant packaging to prevent young children swallowing them. It mainly affects manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of these batteries and of consumer goods that contain them.\n\nIts goal is to reduce child injuries and deaths from battery ingestion; limited exemptions apply (e.g., hearing‑aid batteries, bulk trade supplies, and batteries already installed in devices)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument sets out a new safety standard and defines its own scope and exclusions. The text does not indicate it amends or replaces a prior instrument, so no scope change from an earlier instrument is evident within this text."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple external technical standards are incorporated or offered as alternatives (IEC 60086‑4 Annex E; Australian, European, International ISO standards; US Poison Prevention standard) increasing cross-reference complexity (ss4, 7–9).","Detailed technical testing obligation: representative samples must be tested before supply under Annex E (as modified) for several packaging types (s7(2)(a)(i), s7(3)(a)(i), s8(2)).","Alternative compliance paths for non‑reclosable vs reclosable packaging with different clause references create branching compliance rules (s7(2)–(3)).","Precision in the defined scope of 'applicable button/coin battery' relies on physical measurements and chemistry, which can complicate classification (s4).","Exclusions carve out zinc‑air hearing‑aid batteries, bulk trade supplies, and batteries pre‑installed in goods, requiring suppliers to assess intended use and customer (s5).","Modification of Annex E to map terms to 'applicable button/coin battery' adds a bespoke technical amendment to an international standard (s9).","Regulator discretion to request suppliers to nominate applicable compliance routes and to require evidence increases administrative interaction (note to s7 referencing s108 ACL).","Access and licensing notes indicate standards are purchasable and may be subject to licensing conditions, imposing potential cost and procedural burdens on suppliers (definitions and notes in s4).","Commencement timing through an 'application day' (18 months after commencement) imposes an implementation window suppliers must manage (definition of application day in s4)."],"plain_english_summary":"Creates mandatory packaging safety rules for small button/coin batteries sold to consumers in Australia: packaging must be child‑resistant and blister packs must release only one battery at a time. It covers batteries sold alone or with other goods and excludes zinc‑air hearing‑aid batteries, bulk trade supplies, and batteries pre‑installed in consumer goods (s5).\n\nSuppliers must meet testing or design requirements tied to IEC 60086‑4 Annex E or specified Australian, European, ISO or US standards before supply; they bear testing and compliance costs and must produce evidence to the regulator on request (ss6–9; note to s7)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020","history":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-button-coin-batteries-safety-standard-2020/documents"}}