{"id":"F2018L00659","name":"Consumer Goods (Self-balancing Scooters) Safety Standard 2018","slug":"consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":100078,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L00659-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","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 (Self‑balancing Scooters) Safety Standard 2018.","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":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purpose","content":"#### 5 Purpose\n\n  This safety standard sets out safety requirements that self‑balancing scooters must comply with under the Australian Consumer Law.\n\n> Note: For the requirement to comply with a safety standard, see section 106 of the Australian Consumer Law.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 6 Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\n> AS/NZS 60335.1:2011 means Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 60335.1:2011 Household and similar electrical appliances—Safety Part 1: General Requirements (IEC 60335‑1 Ed 5.2, MOD), published jointly by, or on behalf of, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, as in force or existing at the time when this section commences.\n\n> Note: AS/NZS 60335.1:2011 could in 2018 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> AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016 means Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016 Household and similar electrical applications—Safety—Part 2.201: Particular requirements for battery powered self‑balancing personal transport devices, published jointly by, or on behalf of, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, as in force or existing at the time when this section commences.\n\n> Note: AS/NZS 60335.2:201:2016 could in 2018 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> IEC 60335‑1:2010 means IEC 60335‑1:2010+AMD1:2013+AMD2:2016 Household and similar electrical appliances ‑ Safety ‑ Part 1: General requirements, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, as in force or existing at the time when this section commences.\n\n> Note: IEC 60335‑1:2010 could in 2018 be purchased from the IEC’s website (https://webstore.iec.ch). 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> IEC 62133‑2:2017 means IEC 62133‑2:2017 Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non‑acid electrolytes ‑ Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable application ‑ Part 2: Lithium systems, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, as in force or existing at the time when this section commences.\n\n> Note: IEC 62133‑2:2017 could in 2018 be purchased from the IEC’s website (https://webstore.iec.ch). 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> self‑balancing scooter means a ride‑on device that:\n\n    (a) has 1 or 2 wheels; and\n    (b) has no steering grips, seat or handlebars; and\n    (c) is powered by a lithium‑ion battery that is rechargeable via connection to a mains power supply.\n\n> Note: Self‑balancing scooters are also known as hoverboards, gliders, smart boards, sky walkers, monoboards and mod boards.\n\n> UL 2272 means UL 2272 ‑ Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E‑Mobility Devices, published by the Underwriters Laboratories Inc., as in force or existing at the time when this section commences.\n\n> Note: UL 2272 could in 2018 be purchased from the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (https://standardscatalog.ul.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.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Requirements","content":"## Part 2—Requirements","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Safety standard for self‑balancing scooters","content":"#### 7 Safety standard for self‑balancing scooters\n\n  (1) A self‑balancing scooter must comply with the requirements set out in subsection (2), (3) or (4).\n  (2) A self‑balancing scooter complies with the requirements in this subsection if the scooter complies with:\n    (a) IEC 62133‑2:2017; and\n    (b) one of the following:\n    (i) section 11 (heating) of IEC 60335‑1:2010, as amended by Annex B to that standard;\n    (ii) section 11 (heating) of AS/NZS 60335.1:2011, as amended by Annex B to that standard;\n    (iii) section 11 (heating) of AS/NZS 60335.1:2011, as amended by Annex B to that standard and section 11 (heating) of AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016; and\n    (c) one of the following:\n    (i) section 19 (abnormal operation) of IEC 60335‑1:2010, as amended by Annex B to that standard;\n    (ii) section 19 (abnormal operation) of AS/NZS 60335.1:2011, as amended by Annex B to that standard;\n    (iii) section 19 (abnormal operation) of AS/NZS 60335.1:2011, as amended by Annex B to that standard and section 19 (abnormal operation) of AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016.\n  (3) A self‑balancing scooter complies with the requirements in this subsection if the scooter complies with the following provisions of UL 2272:\n    (a) section 12 (fuses);\n    (b) subsections 16.1 to 16.5 (protective circuits and safety analysis);\n    (c) section 17 (cells);\n    (d) section 24 (overcharge test);\n    (e) section 25 (short circuit test);\n    (f) section 27 (temperature test);\n    (g) section 28 (imbalanced charging test).\n  (4) A self‑balancing scooter complies with the requirements in this subsection if the scooter complies with the requirements of the Consumer Goods (Self‑balancing Scooters) Safety Standard 2016:\n    (a) as in force immediately before 26 May 2018; and\n    (b) as if that standard were varied by substituting references to IEC 62133 with references to IEC 62133‑2:2017.\n\n> Note: The Consumer Goods (Self‑balancing Scooters) Safety Standard 2016 could in 2019 be viewed on the Federal Register of Legislation website (https://www.legislation.gov.au).","sortOrder":6}],"analysis":{"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":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing safety requirements for self-balancing scooters. The 2018 version updates technical references (particularly the battery standard from IEC 62133 to IEC 62133-2:2017) and adds UL 2272 as an alternative compliance pathway, but does not expand beyond personal self-balancing transport devices. The three-option structure represents regulatory refinement rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple compliance pathways (subsections 7(2), 7(3), and 7(4)) creating alternative routes to compliance","Heavy incorporation by reference of external technical standards (5 different standards referenced: AS/NZS 60335.1:2011, AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016, IEC 60335-1:2010, IEC 62133-2:2017, and UL 2272)","Specific section-level references within incorporated standards (e.g., 'section 11 (heating) of IEC 60335-1:2010, as amended by Annex B')","Transitional provision in subsection 7(4) requiring hypothetical application of a repealed standard with specific textual substitutions","7 defined terms in section 6, including precise technical definitions of external standards with version-locking ('as in force or existing at the time when this section commences')","Cross-reference to underlying Australian Consumer Law framework (section 106) and parent Act"],"plain_english_summary":"This law imposes mandatory electrical and battery safety requirements on self‑balancing scooters (hoverboards) sold in Australia, targeting manufacturers, importers and retailers and protecting consumers. It requires devices to meet recognized lithium‑ion battery safety standards (with three compliance pathways offered) to prevent fires, explosions and other hazards. By making non‑compliant sales illegal, the rule reduces risk of property damage, injury and death while giving industry options to meet core safety outcomes."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument keeps the same regulatory subject—safety requirements for self‑balancing scooters—but updates and clarifies which technical standards and specific test provisions satisfy that requirement. It also preserves the prior 2016 standard as an alternative compliance route subject to a substitution of IEC 62133 with IEC 62133‑2:2017, so the regulatory reach remains focused on the same devices while altering technical compliance paths (s.7(2)–(4))."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple alternative compliance routes rather than a single test regimen (s.7(2)–(4)).","Dependence on several external technical standards and specific clauses (IEC 62133‑2:2017; IEC 60335‑1:2010; AS/NZS 60335.1:2011; AS/NZS 60335.2.201:2016; UL 2272) (s.6, s.7).","References are to standards “as in force” at commencement, creating version‑certainty issues for later updates (s.6, s.7).","Technical requirements specify discrete tests (heating, abnormal operation, fuses, protective circuits, overcharge, short circuit, temperature, imbalanced charging) that require laboratory verification and specialist expertise (s.7(2)–(3)).","Retention of the 2016 safety standard via an 'as if varied' cross‑reference (s.7(4)) adds drafting and interpretation complexity.","Access and copyright limits on standards mean businesses must purchase standards or rely on supervised viewing at ACCC offices, adding compliance cost and administrative friction (s.6 notes).","The instrument uses a narrow device definition (1–2 wheels; no handlebars/seat; mains‑rechargeable lithium‑ion) which constrains scope and creates boundary questions for new device types (s.6).","Instrument is made under the Australian Consumer Law framework and interacts with ACL compliance/enforcement provisions, requiring coordination with broader consumer law obligations (s.3, s.5 notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument requires self‑balancing scooters (hoverboards) to meet specified electrical and lithium‑battery safety tests by complying with listed IEC, AS/NZS or UL provisions (s.7). It also allows compliance via the 2016 standard updated to IEC 62133‑2:2017.  \n\nIt affects manufacturers, importers and sellers, who carry testing and compliance costs and must ensure devices pass heating, abnormal‑operation and battery tests; referenced standards are those “as in force” at commencement and may be copyright‑restricted (s.6, s.7)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018","history":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/consumer-goods-self-balancing-scooters-safety-standard-2018/documents"}}