Free tool
Product safety reporting & recall timer
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a supplier must notify the ACCC within 2 days when consumer goods are associated with a death, serious injury or illness (s 131), or when the supplier conducts a voluntary recall (s 128). This tool computes your reporting deadline, sets out what the written notice must contain, and lists the recall best-practice steps and mandatory-standard reminders.
Reference tool — not legal advice. The 2-day mandatory reporting and recall notification windows under the ACL are short and strict; confirm your specific obligations with the ACCC / Product Safety Australia and, for serious or contested incidents, an Australian-admitted lawyer. Product liability insurers often require earlier notification — check your policy.
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Frequently asked questions
- When must a supplier report under the Australian Consumer Law?
- Under s 131 of the ACL, a supplier of consumer goods (or product-related services) must notify the Commonwealth Minister (via the ACCC) in writing within 2 days of becoming aware that the goods were associated with the death, serious injury or illness of any person. This applies even where a third party alleges the association and even if the supplier disputes that the goods caused the harm — unless the association has already been publicly disclosed or notified.
- Do I have to report if I dispute that my product caused the injury?
- Yes. The s 131 obligation is triggered by awareness of an association between the goods and a death, serious injury or illness — not by proof of cause. A mandatory report is not an admission of liability. When in doubt, report within the 2-day window; there is no penalty for over-reporting.
- Do I need to notify the ACCC of a voluntary recall?
- Yes. Under s 128 of the ACL, a supplier who conducts a voluntary recall of consumer goods must notify the Commonwealth Minister in writing within 2 days of taking that action. Register the recall through Product Safety Australia so it appears on the national recalls list and set up a consumer remedy process.
- Is the 2-day deadline in calendar days or business days?
- The ACL specifies 2 days, measured as calendar days. Because the window is so short, treat it as a hard calendar-day deadline and act immediately rather than relying on a business-day reading. This tool shows both the calendar-day statutory deadline and a business-day planning date.
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