New Furniture Safety Standards
The Australian Government has introduced the Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024, which came into effect on 4 May 2025
The new standard aims to raise awareness of the hazards associated with toppling furniture and reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the home.
What is Toppling Furniture?
The standard defines “toppling furniture” as freestanding household furniture that poses a tipping risk. However, it excludes:
- Furniture that was bought by a consumer and is being resold
- Second-hand furniture, including furniture that was previously bought and used commercially
- Furniture designed to be fastened to a wall or other structure and that can’t be used unless it’s attached.
Furniture covered under the standard falls into the following categories:
- Category 1 furniture – A clothing storage unit or bookcase with a height of 686mm or more. A clothing storage unit is an item of furniture designed to be used primarily to store clothes and that contains one or more doors, drawers or other extendable elements.
- Category 2 furniture – Entertainment units of any height. Entertainment units are designed to be used primarily to house, support or carry a television.
- Category 3 furniture – Hall tables, display cabinets, buffets, and sideboards with a height of 686 mm or greater.
What are your obligations?
From 4 May 2025, businesses that manufacture, import, supply, or sell toppling furniture must comply with the following information requirements:
Point of sale
Clear and legible warnings about the risk of tip-overs and the importance of anchoring must be provided:
- Online: within the product description
- In-store: on or near the product
Affixed to the furniture
Permanent warnings must be attached to each product covered by the mandatory standard. These must be durable, clearly visible when the furniture is empty, and last the lifetime of the product.
Included in the instructions
Assembly or user instructions must include a prominent warning about the tipping risk and instructions for anchoring the product safely.
What Should the Warnings Say?
Each warning must include:
- An alert word in upper case (such as “WARNING” or “DANGER”)
- A statement that children have died from furniture tip-overs
- An internationally recognised safety alert symbol (see below)
Each category of furniture also requires category-specific safety warnings, which must be included in all three areas outlined above.
What products does the mandatory standard not apply to?
The following items are excluded:
- Second-hand furniture, including resales by businesses or individuals
- Furniture designed to be affixed to a wall or structure and that cannot be used unless fixed (e.g., built-in wardrobes, some kitchen cabinets)
- Furniture not in Categories 1–3, such as:
- Dining tables and chairs
- Beds, coffee tables and office chairs
- Low bookshelves or short side tables
- Any other piece of furniture not in category 1-3
Compliance & Enforcement
The mandatory information standard commenced on 4 May 2025. From then, failure to comply with the mandatory information standard may constitute a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law and expose a business or individual to enforcement action by the ACCC with penalties of up to $50,000 per breach. Guidance materials to help suppliers comply with the mandatory standard can be found on the ACCC website.
ACFA Workplace Advisory Team
1300 342 248
