G/TBT/N/AUS/159  
4 August 2023  
(23-5306) Page: 1/2 
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 di fferent from above:   
Australian WTO TBT Enquiry Point  
Office of Global Trade Negotiations  
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Canberra ACT 0221  
tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
+61 2 6261 1111  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN  where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  'Infant 
Sleep Products ' being any product that has a surface on which an infant may lay which 
creates a sleep environment, including products that soothe or settle. Examples of Infant 
Sleep Products include infant hammocks, bassinets, bedside sleepers, inclined sleepers, 
sleep positioners or wedges, household cots and folding cots.  
'Inclined Non -Sleep Products ' being any inclined product for inf ants that position the 
infant's head above the horizontal, which is not designed, intended, marketed or contain 
any representations that it is suitable for sleep, but where an infant may still fall asleep. 
Examples of Inclined Non -Sleep Products include in fant swings and bouncer seats.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposal of 2 
new mandatory standards - The Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 
and the Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard ; (9 page(s), in 
English), (21 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The ACCC intends to introduce 2 new mandatory standards - A 
mandatory safety standard for Infant Sleep Products and an ma ndatory information 
standard for infant sleep products.  
The attached exposure drafts of the instruments set out the proposed requirements for 
the: 
1. Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 2023 exposure draft - 
A mandatory information standard  for Infant Sleep Products, including Inclined G/TBT/N/AUS/159  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Non-Sleep Products would include safety information and warnings so consumers 
are better informed of infant safe sleep practices and related risks.  
2. Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2023  exposure draft - 
A mandatory safety standard for Infant Sleep Products would introduce testing 
and design requirements to address the risks associated with incline, curvature, 
rigidity and material used, in addition to established requirements such as 
stability. There would also be specific requirements for bassinets, folding and 
household cots to address product specific hazards (for example, bar/slat width, 
side height and drop side strength requirements).  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:   
Incline, curvature, rigidity and the breathability of materials used in both Infant Sleep 
Products and Inclined Non -Sleep Products pose a risk to infants when sleeping by 
increasing the risk of suffocation, positional asphyxiation and carbon dioxide rebreathing.  
There are 2 relevant mandatory safety standards in Australia, being the Household Cots 
Mandatory Standard and the Folding Cots Mandatory Standard, meaning there is a 
regulatory gap for all other Infant Sleep Pro ducts, including common products such as 
bassinets.  
To reduce the risks of deaths or injuries associated with Infant Sleep Products, a 
mandatory safety standard for Infant Sleep Products has been developed which provides 
for various design, construction, performance and marking requirements.  
It is intended the mandatory safety standard would be complemented by a mandatory 
information standard for Infant Sleep Products and Inclined Non -Sleep Products by 
requiring these products to be provided with appropriate warnings and instructions for 
their safe use.  
Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
1. Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 2023 exposure draft  
2. Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety St andard 2023  exposure draft.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  The new mandatory safety standard and mandatory 
information standard would be adopted the day after they are registered.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  The new mandatory safety standard and mandatory 
information standard would provide a transitional period (likely 18 months) to allow 
suppliers to move to the new requirements. During this time household and folding cots 
are required to comply with either the current mandatory standards or the Consumer 
Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2023.  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] 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  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/AUS/23_11474_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/AUS/23_11474_01_e.pdf