Approved electrical appliances
All electrical appliances and equipment must be approved prior to being made available for public use. Approved electrical appliances display a regulatory compliance mark or unique approval number.
Approval markings can vary between states. Typically they are an alphanumeric code, comprising the first letter of the state that issued the approval followed by between one and six digits. Two examples are shown below.
To find out if an appliance is approved for use, ask the store manager / sales person or search the Australian Certification Database for approved electrical appliances.
It is illegal to sell unapproved electrical products. Outlets selling them may be fined $5,000 for individuals and $24,000 for companies.
Members of the public can report the sale of unapproved electrical products by phoning ESV on 03 9203 9700 or 1800 800 158.
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Extract from article originally published as What to look for when buying an electrical appliance
