SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 108/17

Two new Australia / New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS 1067.1: 2016 & AS/NZS 1067.2: 2016) were published at the end of September 2016.

The objective of those standards is to specify minimum requirements for sunglasses, fashion spectacles and replacement filters that are nominally afocal (plano power)-excluding prescription filters-providing protection against solar radiation for general use including road use and driving.

AS/NZS 1067.1: 2016 (Eye and face protection-Sunglasses and fashion spectacles Part 1: Requirements ) aligns its requirements closely to those of ISO 12312-1:2013 (Eye and face protection-Sunglasses and related eyewear, Part 1: Sunglasses for general use.)

Test methods referred in AS/NZS 1067.1: 2016 are now located in AS/NZS 1067.2 (Eye and face protection-Sunglasses and fashion spectacles, Part 2: Test methods), which is an identical adoption of ISO 12311:2013 (Personal protective equipment-Test methods for sunglasses and related eyewear).

One of the major differences between AS/NZS standard and ISO standard is that AS/NZS 1067: 2016 provides protection to a higher wavelength of 400nm, while ISO standard provides protection against harmful UVR to a maximum of 380nm.

Currently, Consumer Protection Notices No. 13 of 2003 and No. 4 of 2005 sets out the mandatory requirements for sunglasses and fashion spectacles, which is based on certain sections of the voluntary standard AS/NZS 1067: 2003.

ACCC has proposed to amend the mandatory standard to reference the latest voluntary standard, AS/NZS 1067:2016, in order to keep the regulation relevant, avoid confusion and facilitate compliance. There will be a further announcement for the new regulation and its transition period.

Throughout our global network, SGS offers consultation and comprehensive testing services covering the full spectrum of international product safety and regulatory standard for a wide range of consumer products. To know more about our services, please visit our website.

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John Wong
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SGS SA published this content on 19 July 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 July 2017 03:13:07 UTC.

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