Selling goods
Your responsibilities when it comes to product safety and selling goods.
As a supplier, you must follow mandatory safety standards and rules to sell products.
If you don't, there are penalties and consequences in place.
Meet safety standards
The products you sell must meet Australian safety and information standards.
If they pose a safety risk, they may be recalled.
You should:
- check information about these safety requirements and recalls on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website
- learn how to label products on the Australian Government's Business website.
If you're selling food, make sure your business meets food safety requirements.
Understand consumer rights
Your customers have rights. These include a guarantee that the products and goods they buy are:
- of acceptable quality
- match the description, sample or demonstration model they were shown
- are fit for their intended purpose
- have a clear title unless otherwise stated
- don't have any money owing on them
- come with a right to undisturbed possession.
If the products you sell don't meet these requirements, then your customer can ask for a refund or replacement. Find out more about consumer guarantees under Australian law.
For more information on consumer protection in the Northern Territory (NT), contact NT Consumer Affairs.
Provide receipts
You must provide your customer with a receipt for any sale of $75 or more.
A customer can also ask for a receipt for any sale under $75. You must provide this to the customer within seven days.
What to include
A receipt must include:
- your business name and ABN or ACN
- date of supply
- details about the product or service purchased
- the price.
Read more about receipts on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.
Follow trade measurements
You must comply with Australian trade measurement laws if your business:
- sells goods by measurements
- manufactures, packs, imports or sells pre-packaged goods.
For more information, go to the Australian Government's National Measurement Institute website.
To find out about calibrating measuring instruments or the location of public weighbridges:
- call the institute on 1300 686 664 or
- email infotm@measurement.gov.au.