Furniture suppliers will be required to provide safety warnings to people buying large items that can topple and potentially harm young children when not properly secured.
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Some 28 people - including 17 children under the age of five - have died in Australia due to toppling furniture since 2000.
"We know young children and the elderly are most at risk of toppling furniture injuries and the most common cause of death is head and crush injuries and asphyxiation," Australian Competition and Consumer Condition deputy chair Mick Keogh said on Tuesday.
In 2013, two-year-old Jasmine Cammilleri died in hospital due to a chest injury caused by a falling TV after the Fremantle toddler climbed onto a cabinet.
A West Australian coroner later ruled the death was preventable.
Two years later, 22-month-old Reef Kite was crushed and killed when a chest of drawers fell on him while he was living with his family in a rental property in Perth.
The new rules require suppliers to provide safety warnings and advice about how to reduce toppling furniture incidents to consumers before, during and after purchasing relevant items.
The information standard will require suppliers to attach a permanent warning label to furniture and include safety information with purchases, as well as providing warnings about the hazards of toppling furniture in stores and online.
The regulations will apply to chests of drawers, wardrobes, bookcases, hall tables, display cabinets, buffets and entertainment units of any height.
"The new information standard will help increase awareness about toppling furniture risks, including by warning consumers to securely anchor furniture to prevent furniture tip overs," Mr Keogh said.
Suppliers will have a 12-month transition period to implement the changes and penalties of up to $50 million will apply for breaches.
Australian Associated Press
