{"id":"F2013L00049","name":"Consumer Goods (Portable Swimming Pools) Safety Standard 2013","slug":"consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":126872,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2013L00049-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Consumer Goods (Portable Swimming Pools) Safety Standard 2013","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.png)\n\nConsumer Goods (Portable Swimming Pools) Safety Standard 2013\n\nCompetition and Consumer Act 2010\n\nI, David Bradbury, Assistant Treasurer, make the following safety standard under subsection 104 (1) of the Australian Consumer Law, set out in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.\n\nDated 4 January 2013\n\nDavid Bradbury\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n1 Name of safety standard\n\nThis safety standard is the Consumer Goods (Portable Swimming Pools) Safety Standard 2013.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis safety standard commences on 30 March 2014.\n\n3 Purpose\n\nThis safety standard sets out mandatory labelling requirements for portable swimming pools and packaging for portable swimming pools.\n\n4 Definitions\n\nIn this safety standard:\n\n> Act means the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.\n\n> portable swimming pool has the meaning given by section 5.\n\n> Note Australian Consumer Law is defined in subsection 4 (1) of the Act.\n\n5 Portable swimming pools\n\nIn this safety standard, a portable swimming pool is a swimming pool that is:\n\n(a) intended for personal, domestic or household use; and\n\n(b) one of the following:\n\n(i) an inflatable swimming pool, of any depth;\n\n(ii) a soft-sided swimming pool, of any depth;\n\n(iii) a rigid-sided swimming pool that is not deeper than 300 mm.\n\n6 Warning message on portable swimming pools\n\n(1) For paragraph 104 (2) (c) of the Australian Consumer Law, a portable swimming pool must display a permanent warning message.\n\n(2) If the depth of the portable swimming pool is less than 300 mm, the warning message must include the following statement:\n\n“WARNING!\n\nChildren have drowned in portable swimming pools.\n\nEnsure active adult supervision at all times.\n\nDo not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool—keep them within arms’ reach.\n\nEmpty and store safely after use.”\n\n(3) If the depth of the portable swimming pool is 300 mm or more, or if the portable swimming pool is capable of being filled to a depth of 300 mm or more, the warning message must include the following statement:\n\n“WARNING!\n\nChildren have drowned in portable swimming pools.\n\nEnsure active adult supervision at all times.\n\nDo not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool—keep them within arms’ reach.\n\nPool fencing laws apply to this pool. Consult your local government authority for fencing requirements.”\n\n(4) The statement mentioned in subsections (2) and (3) must be:\n\n(a) permanently printed or embossed on the portable swimming pool; and\n\n(b) legible, to a person aged more than 18 years with normal visual acuity, from a distance of 3 metres; and\n\n(c) in letters not less than:\n\n(i) for “WARNING!”—10 mm high; and\n\n(ii) for the other words—6 mm high; and\n\n(d) in a contrasting colour to the background colour on which the warning is printed or embossed; and\n\n(e) visible to a person who is:\n\n(i) standing outside of the portable swimming pool; and\n\n(ii) supervising a child who is in or near the portable swimming pool.\n\n(5) If words additional to the words mentioned in the statement set out in subsections (2) and (3) are printed or embossed on a portable swimming pool, the additional words must not:\n\n(a) be interposed in the words in the statement; or\n\n(b) contradict, qualify or modify the words in the statement.\n\n7 Warning message on retail packaging for portable swimming pools\n\n(1) For paragraph 104 (2) (c) of the Australian Consumer Law, the retail packaging for a portable swimming pool must display a permanent warning message that is conspicuous and visible to a purchaser of the portable swimming pool when the portable swimming pool is purchased.\n\n(2) If the depth of the portable swimming pool is less than 300 mm, the warning message must include the following statement:\n\n“WARNING!\n\nChildren have drowned in portable swimming pools.\n\nEnsure active adult supervision at all times.\n\nDo not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool—keep them within arms’ reach.\n\nEmpty and store safely after use.”\n\n(3) If the depth of the portable swimming pool is 300 mm or more, or if the portable swimming pool is capable of being filled to a depth of 300 mm or more, the warning message must include the following statement:\n\n“WARNING!\n\nChildren have drowned in portable swimming pools.\n\nEnsure active adult supervision at all times.\n\nDo not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool—keep them within arms’ reach.\n\nPool fencing laws apply to this pool. Consult your local government authority for fencing requirements.”\n\n(4) The statement mentioned in subsections (2) and (3) must be:\n\n(a) permanently printed on:\n\n(i) the retail packaging for the portable swimming pool; or\n\n(ii) a label affixed to the retail packaging for the portable swimming pool; and\n\n(b) legible, to a person aged more than 18 years with normal visual acuity, from a distance of 3 metres; and\n\n(c) in letters not less than:\n\n(i) for “WARNING!”—10 mm high; and\n\n(ii) for the other words—6 mm high; and\n\n(d) in a contrasting colour to the background colour on which the warning message is affixed to, or printed on; and\n\n(e) displayed on the front of the retail packaging.\n\n(5) If words additional to the words mentioned in the statement set out in subsections (2) and (3) are permanently affixed to, or printed on, the retail packaging for a portable swimming pool, or on a label affixed to the retail packaging for the portable swimming pool, the additional words must not:\n\n(a) be interposed in the words in the statement; or\n\n(b) contradict, qualify or modify the words in the statement.\n\n8 Safety sign on portable swimming pools\n\n(1) For paragraph 104 (2) (c) of the Australian Consumer Law, a portable swimming pool must display a safety sign.\n\n(2) The safety sign is:\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\n![](image.003.png)\n\n> Note The safety sign is WSM002, included in both the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO 20712-1:2008 Water safety signs and beach safety flags—Part 1: Specifications for water safety signs used in workplaces and public areas and Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2416.1:2010 (incorporating amendment No. 1) Water safety signs and beach safety flags Part 1: Specifications for water safety signs used in workplaces and public areas (ISO 20712-1:2008,MOD).\n\n(3) The safety sign must be:\n\n(a) not less than 40 mm in diameter; and\n\n(b) in blue and white colours, as depicted in subsection (2); and\n\n(c) permanently printed or embossed on the portable swimming pool, on a background that provides a distinct contrast to the colour of the background of the safety sign; and\n\n(d) placed next to the warning message.\n\n(4) The safety sign must not be distorted.\n\n> Note\n\n> Note: 1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See [www.comlaw.gov.au](http://www.comlaw.gov.au/).","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument confines itself to mandatory labelling and signage for portable swimming pools as defined in s5. It does not broaden the definition of regulated goods beyond that definition or alter other provisions of the Australian Consumer Law; it prescribes how warnings and signs must appear and where they must be placed."},"complexity_factors":["Detailed, technical formatting rules for warnings (font heights: 10 mm for “WARNING!”, 6 mm for other words; legibility from 3 metres) (s6(4), s7(4)).","Depth-based conditional requirements: different mandatory text if pool depth is <300 mm versus ≥300 mm or capable of being filled to that depth (ss6(2)–(3), 7(2)–(3)).","Separate but overlapping obligations for the portable pool itself and for retail packaging, with parallel prohibitions on additional wording that could interpose or modify the warning (ss6(4)–(5), 7(1)–(5)).","Specific safety-sign specification (design, minimum 40 mm diameter, colours, placement next to warning, must not be distorted) tied to international/ANZ standards (s8).","Multiple mandated permanence options (printed, embossed, label affixed) and precise placement (front of packaging; visible to a supervising adult) increase compliance permutations (ss6(4)(a), 7(4)(a), 7(4)(e)).","Legal reference points to the Competition and Consumer Act / Australian Consumer Law for enforcement create compliance risk but do not set out penalties here (preamble, s3).","Start date set in instrument (commencement) requires lead time for manufacturers and retailers to implement changes (s2)."],"plain_english_summary":"This safety standard requires manufacturers, importers and retailers of portable swimming pools to display permanent, legible warning messages and a standard blue-and-white safety sign on pools and on retail packaging (see ss 6–8). The exact warning text depends on whether the pool can be 300 mm deep or more and must meet specified font size, contrast, placement and legibility rules.\n\nThose who make or sell these pools pay the compliance costs (printing/embossing, packaging changes) and must follow the placement and content rules to avoid enforcement under the Act."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of mandating safety labelling for portable swimming pools. It has not expanded to cover pool construction standards, materials, or additional product categories beyond those originally specified."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section","Straightforward conditional logic based solely on pool depth (300mm threshold)","Minimal cross-referencing (only to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Australian Consumer Law)","Clear, prescriptive requirements with specific measurements (letter heights, distances, diameters)","No nested exceptions or complex temporal provisions","Single purpose legislation with narrow scope (labelling only, not construction or materials)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires all portable swimming pools sold in Australia (inflatable, soft-sided, or shallow rigid up to 300mm) to carry a permanent, visible safety warning and symbol on the product and packaging. It affects manufacturers, importers and retailers and ensures parents and carers receive clear supervision and fencing advice to prevent child drownings."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013","history":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013/history","analysis":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-portable-swimming-pools-safety-standard-2013/documents"}}