What criteria, if any, does the Minister apply when determining whether to introduce a mandatory product safety standard, and what is the timeline and responsibility of actions between the Minister and officials?

Answer

Decisions on whether to introduce a mandatory product safety standard are guided by the statutory framework in the Fair Trading Act 1986 and the advice provided by officials. While no formal public list of criteria exists, the matters considered typically include the nature and severity of the risk to consumers, evidence from coronial findings or incident data, the effectiveness of existing voluntary measures, and whether regulatory intervention would reduce the likelihood of harm. There is no fixed timeline for progressing mandatory safety standards. In general, officials are responsible for assessing the evidence, analysing policy options, and preparing advice. The Minister is responsible for considering that advice and determining whether regulatory intervention is warranted.