ACCC sweep finds widespread non-compliance with mandatory toppling furniture safety rules

When the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ushered in new mandatory toppling furniture safety rules in May 2025, the reform was aimed squarely at reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by toppling furniture.

Yet despite a long lead-in period and extensive industry consultation, compliance is alarmingly low. An ACCC compliance sweep in late 2025 found that 90% of furniture suppliers were non-compliant on at least one product, and more than half were fully non-compliant, meaning all toppling furniture products inspected had either no warning information displayed or had incorrect or incomplete information.

Only 10 per cent of businesses were assessed as fully compliant with the mandatory information standard requirements.

The compliance rules require suppliers, including retailers, wholesalers and distributers, to attach clear warning labels to certain furniture items, display safety messages at the point of sale both in-store and online, and include anchoring advice in manuals and assembly guides.

The move follows decades of advocacy by safety groups and a troubling record of preventable tragedies. Since 2000, at least 28 Australians have died after furniture tipped over, and around 900 serious injuries occur each year.

The intent behind the rules is simple: visibility saves lives. The required warnings now must include a prominent alert word such as “DANGER” or “WARNING,” use international safety symbols, and feature a pictogram of a child climbing or pulling on a piece of furniture. The hope is that such warnings are not just noticed but acted upon.

Common pitfalls flagged by the ACCC

The most common issues include:

• Labels are only included on the packaging: warnings must be permanent on the product.
• Warnings not visible online: if a consumer can add the product to the cart without seeing the safety information, it’s considered non-compliant.
• Manuals are outdated or incomplete: all instructions included with the product must incorporate anchoring advice and hazard warnings.
• Some product categories are overlooked: Furniture such as hall tables, sideboards, display cabinets and all entertainment units must have the warning.

The ACCC has made it clear that this is an area where leniency is running out; enforcement actions, including penalties as high as $50 million or 30% of adjusted turnover, are firmly on the table. But the risks of inaction are far greater. Beyond financial penalties, retailers face reputational damage in a market where consumer trust is increasingly tied to safety transparency. In a category as competitive as furniture, trust is a currency as valuable as price or convenience.

Operational steps to achieve compliance

For retailers, the new standard introduces practical operational adjustments as well as opportunities to demonstrate leadership on safety.

The first hurdle is inventory. Many existing furniture lines, particularly flat-pack products or items sourced from multiple overseas suppliers, were not originally designed to accommodate permanent warning labels. As a result, retailers may need to apply new labels, update packaging, or work with suppliers to ensure future production runs meet the requirements. This can be complex in the sector, where high-volume furniture ranges move quickly and rely on diverse supply chains.

The second area is point-of-sale compliance. Safety warnings must now appear clearly in-store, whether through display cards, shelf talkers, or digital signage. Online, they must be visible and consistent across product pages. While these steps are manageable, they require system-wide consistency, staff training, and close coordination with suppliers to ensure compliance across all channels.

There is also a broader systems challenge. The standard applies across the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to importers to retailers. This means Large Format Retailers cannot treat compliance as something to simply “bolt on” at the shopfront. Instead, they must work closely with suppliers to ensure products arrive ready for sale, with correct labelling, correct manuals, and correct warnings already integrated.

What should retailers do now?

A thorough compliance audit is the essential first step, identifying which products fall under the standard and ensuring warning labels, manuals and point-of-sale materials meet all requirements.

Staff training is just as important. Sales teams need to understand the risks, explain anchoring guidance, and handle customer questions confidently.

Digital teams must also ensure online product listings reflect the same warnings shown in-store, while buying teams review supplier agreements to guarantee future stock is compliant on arrival. Retailers can also use safety communication as a value-add, educating customers and reinforcing their commitment to responsible retailing.

The ACCC published supplier guidance to assist suppliers to comply with the mandatory toppling-furniture information standard.

Retailers who take this seriously, embedding safety into their processes, training and supplier relationships, will set the benchmark for the industry. In a market where safety and trust matter more than ever, leadership starts here.