G/TBT/N/AUS/118  
7 May 2020  
(20-3478) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicabl e): Portable 
non-aerosol fire extinguishers are a hand operated device designed to extinguish certain 
fires. Such products generally weigh between half a kilogram and nine kilograms, but can 
weigh up to 23 kilograms. They may be refillable and come with a support fitting, carry 
handle, squeeze lever, pressure indicating device and an anti -discharge device. They also 
contain a different extinguishing agent depending on the type of fire the extinguisher is 
intended to fight. While the ACCC reviewed portable a erosol and portable non -aerosol fire 
extinguishers in the same consultation, it does not propose any change to portable aerosol 
fire extinguishers, which are subject to a separate mandatory safety standard (Consumer 
Protection Notice No. 9 of 2004).; - Fire extinguishers, whether or not charged (HS 
842410 ) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Review of the 
mandatory safety standards for portable fire extinguishers – Consultation paper (17 
page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The ACCC is proposing to amend the mandatory safety standard 
for portable non -aerosol fire extinguishers by referencing the latest voluntary Australian 
standard AS/NZS 1841:2007, Portable fire extinguishers , Parts 1 to 8.  
The proposed standard would maint ain comparable requirements to the existing standard 
(the Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 2004 , which references and varies the voluntary 
Australian standard AS/NZS 1841:1997 Portable f ire extinguishers , Parts 1 to 8) for the 
design, construction, performance, testing, instructions and labelling of these 
extinguishers.  
Through reference to the latest voluntary Australian standard, it would also provide 
additional clarity for suppliers by  introducing new requirements on filling tolerance and, 
provide suppliers with greater compliance options through two alternate methods for 
discharge testing.  
The attached consultation paper also outlines a proposal to address the identified 
regulatory dup lication in Australia around the routine servicing of portable non -aerosol G/TBT/N/AUS/118  
 
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  fire extinguishers (as prescribed by the voluntary Australian standard AS 1851 -2012 
Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment ), by limiting the application of 
the new  standard to the supply of new extinguishers only. Following further consultation, 
this application has been expanded to apply to the supply of all new non -aerosol and all 
imported second -hand non -aerosol extinguishers. Therefore, it would not apply to the  
supply of second -hand extinguishers already supplied in Australia (i.e. those not 
imported).  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The objective of the proposed mandatory safety standard is to continue 
setting minimum supply requirements to ensure the safety and consistency of these 
essential fire -fighting products across the Australian market. If an extinguisher 
malfunctions, is incorrectly labelled with the wrong operating instructions or contains an 
incorrect extinguishing agent, users and people in close proximity to a fire are at risk of 
serious injury or death. In particular, portable non -aerosol fire extinguishers carry 
prescribed instructions and labelling to help consumers easily identify the device' s 
intended use and safe operation in an emergency, and its correct storage. Consumers 
may not be aware that portable fire extinguishers are designed to fight particular types 
of fires and using the wrong type of extinguisher may actually exacerbate a fire. ; 
Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Consultation paper – https://consultation.accc.gov.au/product -safety/review -of-
the-mandatory -safety -standards -
portable/supporting_documents/Portable%20fire%20extinguishers%20consultat
ion%20paper%20%20September%202019.pdf  
• Current mandatory safety standard (the Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 
2004) – https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/ F2005B01048  
• Latest voluntary Australian standard for the supply of portable non -aerosol fire 
extinguishers (AS/NZS 1841:2007 Portable fire extinguishers , Parts 1 to 8) – 
(1) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-1-2007-
117474_SAIG_AS_AS_245904/ , (2) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-2-2007-117473_SAIG_AS_AS_245901/ , (3) 
https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-3-2007-
117472_SAIG_AS_AS_245898/ , (4) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-4-2007-117471_SAIG_AS_AS_245895/ , (5) 
https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-5-2007-
117470_SAIG_AS_AS_245892/ , (6) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-6-2007-117469_SA IG_AS_AS_245889/ , (7) 
https://infostor e.saiglobal.com/en -au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-7-2007-
117468_SAIG_AS_AS_245886/ , (8) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-8-2007-117467_SAIG_AS_AS_245882/  
• Outdated voluntary Australian standard for the supply of portable non -aerosol 
fire extinguishers (AS/NZS 1841:1997 Portable fire extinguishers , Part 1 to 8) – 
(1) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -us/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-1-1997-
117474_SAIG_AS_AS_245905/ , (2) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
gb/standards/as -nzs-1841-2-1997-117473_saig_as_as_245902/ , (3) 
https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -us/St andards/AS -NZS-1841-3-1997-
117472_SAIG_AS_AS_245899/ , (4) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-4-1997-117471_SAIG_AS_AS_245896/ , (5) 
https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -us/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-5-1997-
117470_SAIG_AS_AS_245893/ , (6) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
au/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-6-1997-
117469_SAIG_A S_AS_245890/?source=predictive , (7) 
https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -us/Standards/AS -NZS-1841-7-1997-
117468_SAIG_AS_AS_245887/ , (8) https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -
us/standards/as -nzs-1841-8-1997-117467_saig_as_as_245883/  
• Voluntary Australian standard for the routine servicing of portable fire 
extinguishers (AS 1851 -2012 Rout ine service of fire protection systems and G/TBT/N/AUS/118  
 
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  equipment) – https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en -us/standards/as -1851-2012-
120190_saig_as_as_251902/       
• Product Safety Australia page - 
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/standards/portable -non-aerosol -fire-
extinguishers  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  The proposed mandatory safety standard would be adopted 
the day after it is registered.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  The proposed mandatory safety standard would 
provide a 12 month transitional period to allow suppliers to move to the new 
requirements. During the transitional period suppliers may choose to comply with the new 
standard or the requirements set out in the Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 2004.  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au