ACCC raises AirTag safety concerns with Apple – Hardware
The Australian Competition and Buyer Fee (ACCC) reported it in conversations with Apple in excess of “safety issues” with the product maker’s AirTag products.
AirTags are Bluetooth tracking gadgets utilised to locate own belongings this kind of as keys or wallets.
The ACCC warned AirTags house owners to maintain the gadgets out of attain of little ones in excess of fears that the ‘button’ battery utilised to electricity them could be accessed far too quickly.
“The ACCC is concerned that the AirTag’s battery compartment could be obtainable to youthful little ones, and the button battery taken off with simplicity,” the buyer watchdog reported.
“In addition, the AirTag battery compartment’s lid does not generally safe totally on closing, and a distinct audio plays when an AirTag’s lid is staying shut, suggesting the lid is safe when it could not be.”
“We observe that Apple has now included a warning label to the AirTag’s packaging,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard reported in a statement.
“However, this by yourself does not address our essential issues about little ones staying equipped to access the button batteries in these gadgets.”
Rickard said the ACCC is continuing to look into to figure out what steps could be needed to address its safety issues.
“We are also liaising with our worldwide counterparts on the safety of Apple AirTags, and at least a single abroad general public safety regulator is also inspecting the safety of this products at this phase,” she reported.
“We are aware many substantial vendors, which include Officeworks, are currently not supplying the AirTag for sale because of issues about button battery safety.”
Officeworks taken off the products from its shelves in May this year in excess of the safety issues.
Apple advised the ABC at the time that “AirTag is designed to meet worldwide boy or girl safety criteria, which include all those in Australia” and that the organization was “performing to assure that our goods will meet or exceed new criteria.”
The ACCC reported that 3 little ones had died and 44 have been hurt from incidents involving button batteries in other goods.
New safety actions in the pipeline
The ACCC welcomed new actions released to parliament in December final year which would see organizations undertake compliance testing to assure batteries are securely contained within just goods.
The federal government’s new mandatory safety and info criteria, which will utilize to all button batteries and buyer goods, is set to occur into effect in June 2022.
Great and penalties will be location for vendors and companies of button batteries following the introduction of the safety criteria.
“Currently in Australia, suppliers are guided by an market code which is voluntary. We urge all companies and suppliers to be ready to comply with the new mandatory criteria as soon as probable,” Rickard reported.
The ACCC reported it is in talks with numerous other suppliers concerning boy or girl safety issues.
