Have your say on product recalls

This year the ACCC has begun a review into the effectiveness of the product recall system. The recalls review will consider how to most effectively deal with unsafe goods that have been sold and are in the homes of consumers.

The review will examine the current system for recalls, both within Australia and internationally, and identify the parts of the system that are functioning well and those to which improvements could be made to achieve best practice.

For business

The success of a recall is largely the result of the way business interacts with its customers—the way it communicates with customers about the problem and the way the recall is conducted. So it is important for this review to get feedback from businesses about their recall experiences—for example, what has worked and what has not, as well as ways in which the government can help with the process.

The ACCC welcomes businesses’ insights into the current recalls system and your suggestions for ways in which it can be improved. Please click on the following link to complete a business questionnaire about recalls.

For consumers

Every year an estimated 30 Australians are killed and a further 180 to 500 seriously injured when goods with manufacturing faults fail. Many more people are hurt because of design problems or the unintended use of products.

When unsafe products are identified, those that have already been sold are recalled from the post-sale environment. Faults are sometimes not obvious to the consumer and can have potentially serious consequences—so an effective recall process is important for reducing the risk of injury.

The ACCC wants to know what you think about the current product recall system and your suggestions for ways in which it can be improved. Please click on the following link to complete a consumer questionnaire about recalls.