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.
Report due in 2 day(s) — lodge the written notice as soon as practicable.
Mandatory report — goods associated with death, serious injury or illness (s 131 ACL)
Report by (statutory — 2 calendar days)
3 July 2026
Business-day planning date
3 July 2026
The obligation
Under s 131 ACL, a supplier of consumer goods (or product-related services) must give the Commonwealth Minister written notice within 2 days of becoming aware that the goods were associated with the death, serious injury or illness of any person — including where a third party alleges the association, and even if the supplier disputes the cause.
What the written notice must contain
- Supplier details — legal entity name, ABN/ACN, and a contact person.
- Description of the consumer goods — brand, model, batch/lot, and identifying features.
- Nature of the death, serious injury or illness and how the goods are said to be associated with it.
- Whether the association was reported by the supplier's own knowledge or alleged by a third party.
- Any action already taken or proposed (investigation, recall, supply suspension).
Recommended steps
- Report now — do not wait. The 2-day clock runs from awareness and is short; act immediately.
- A mandatory report is not an admission of liability. You must report even if you dispute that the goods caused the harm.
- Preserve the affected goods, batch records, and all incident documentation for investigation.
- Assess whether a voluntary recall (s 128) is also warranted, and brief senior management and insurers.
How to report
Lodge the report through the Product Safety Australia mandatory reporting portal (productsafety.gov.au). Keep a copy of the submission and reference number for your compliance file.
Mandatory standards & bans reminder
Some consumer goods must comply with a mandatory safety standard or are subject to a ban (for example button/coin batteries, quad bikes, and infant products such as cots and portable pools). Non-compliant goods must not be supplied. Check Product Safety Australia for the current standards, bans and published recalls before supply.
Sources
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.
Not sure which obligations apply to you?
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