Australia: ACCC sues Amazon over alleged button-battery safety failure in kids' backpacks
Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission has sued Amazon, alleging unicorn-themed kids' backpacks sold on its online marketplace failed to comply with mandatory button-battery safety warnings.
Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) filed a federal-court suit against Amazon Australia, alleging that unicorn-themed kids' backpacks sold on its marketplace failed to comply with mandatory button-battery safety warnings. The ACCC cites about 20 serious child button-battery ingestion cases each year, and regulations have mandated specific labelling since 2022.
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said 'marketplace operators have a responsibility to ensure product safety.' Amazon Australia said it would review the allegations comprehensively and respond in court if necessary. Consumer-rights body CHOICE Australia said the case could become a significant precedent testing the liability framework for digital marketplaces.
The federal court will schedule the first hearing in the coming weeks. The ACCC reminded that the maximum penalty per breach can be A$10 million or 10 percent of annual turnover. This article is not consumer-law advice.
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