ACCC Button
Battery Safety

APRIL 30, 2020

HCIA acknowledges the serious safety issues of button batteries in general consumer goods, particularly for young children. Hearing devices, however, do not pose the same risk as other consumer products because of their exclusive use of zinc air batteries which pose lower risks than other button battery types.

Hearing devices are subject to stringent regulation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) which assures Australian consumers that these devices are safe and meet high standards of quality and efficacy.

In March 2019, after issuing a Safety Warning Notice warning to the Australian public about the dangers of button batteries, the Assistant Treasurer asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to advise the Government on regulatory options to address button battery safety. HCIA responded to both the ACCC’s Issues Paper (August 2019) and its Options Consultation (March 2020) to support an exemption for hearing devices.

Read our submissions:

• HCIA Response to ACCC Button Battery Regulatory Options Consultation Paper
• HCIA Response To ACCC Button Battery Issues Paper

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