Australia Revises Safety Standard for Aquatic Toys

In Australia, mandatory standard Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2026 (the Standard) was approved and commenced on 23 June 2026, repealing the former 2020 version.

The Standard sets out the mandatory requirements for aquatic toys. It aims to reduce the risk of serious injury or death to children from drowning while using these products.

Product Scope

The Standard applies to aquatic toys (inflatable and non-inflatable) that:

• can be worn or attached to the body
• are able to bear the mass of a child under the age of 14
• are to be used for play in shallow water by a child

Aquatic toys can include but are not limited to:

• inflatable novelty shapes
• inflatable toy boats for shallow water
• unattached rings — complete or partial

Exclusions

The Standard does not apply to:

• beach balls
• bodyboards
• kickboards
• surfboards
• inflatable air beds, whether they are intended for use in water or not
• inflatable boats for deep water

Significant Requirements

Design and Construction

Inflatable aquatic toys must meet design and construction requirements set out in the Standard:

A key requirement is: air inlets of inflatable aquatic toys must have non-return valves (a valve that permits air to flow in one direction) with stoppers permanently attached to the toy when the toy is inflated, and the stopper must be capable of being pushed into the toy so that it does not stand out more than 5 mm from the surface of the toy.

Warning Requirements

Aquatic toys must have a permanent warning on them as required by the Standard.

The warning statement must be like the following:

Full Requirements and Transition Period

There is a transition period until 25 June 2028 to allow suppliers to adjust to the new Standard.

An aquatic toy must comply with one of the following requirements:

References

https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L00797/latest/text/explanatory-statement

https://www.productsafety.gov.au/business/search-mandatory-standards/aquatic-toys-mandatory-standard#toc-products-the-mandatory-standard-does-not-apply-to