Bans and mandatory standards
For information on products banned Australia-wide, and products that have mandatory safety standards, visit the Product Safety Australia website.
Small, powerful magnets - permanent ban
A permanent, Australia-wide ban on small, high-powered magnets came into effect on 15 November 2012. This follows the interim ban on small, powerful magnets approved by the Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs on 23 August 2012.
The permanent ban applies to magnets that:
- are loose or separable
- are small enough to fit into the small parts cylinder used in the mandatory standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months of age
- have a magnetic flux of 50 or more
- are marketed by the supplier as, or supplied for use as any of the following:
- a toy, game or puzzle (including but not limited to an adult desk toy, an educational toy or game, a toy, game or puzzle for mental stimulation or stress relief)
- a construction or modelling kit
- jewellery to be worn in or around the mouth or nose.
Such magnets can cause serious injury or death if swallowed or inhaled – for example, by a toddler or if used by a teenager or adult as a tongue or nose stud. The magnets can lock together through intestine walls and cause perforations and blockages.
Businesses must not sell these products and must remove them from sale, including online sales.
Examples of such products include those marketed as:
- BuckyBalls
- Buckycubes
- Nanodots
- Neocubes
- Neodymium sphere magnets
- Xcube.
For more information, view the Magnets – small, high powered page on the Product Safety Australia website.
Product recalls
Products can be recalled from the marketplace if they are found to be unsafe.
Usually, the supplier voluntarily asks consumers to dispose of or return the product for a refund, replacement or modification.
For a list of recalled products, visit the Product Safety Recalls Australia website.
Last updated: 16/11/2012