SPRING 2024 COIN BATTERIES TINY, BUT DEADLY The government has issued new safety guidance regarding button and coin batteries Accidental swallowing of button and coin batteries can cause injury and even death. This is particularly the case with coin cells that contain lithium, where serious injury can occur within hours. Toys using such batteries should carry warnings on the packaging and in the instructions contained inside. Retailers should alert consumers to battery hazards by offering clear and visible safety information at the points of display in stores The government has produced guidance, in the form of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS Stores that sell or 7055:21), to address safety issues posed by button supply 32kg or more of (non-lithium) and coin (lithium) batteries, portable batteries per year and to provide a consistent approach to must offer free collection (take products that contain such batteries. back) of waste or used batteries There must be warnings on the battery, packaging, and the products that contain the batteries. Testing is also required for products containing button and coin batteries. (one pack of four AA batteries sold per day equals about 32kg per year). A collection point must be provided at all premises where batteries are supplied. This applies to shops and to firms selling batteries online, by mail order or by telephone. PAS 7055:21 recommends that: Retailers offer clear and visible safety information at the point of display in stores Information and guidance be provided to distributors, retailers and merchandising teams about battery packaging, and information for consumer products containing batteries be displayed in stores Retailers use the provided battery safety information for online sales. Key messaging should include: Battery warning: Keep out of reach of children Store spare batteries securely Dispose of used batteries immediately and safely If you think batteries might have been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body, seek immediate medical attention. When offering batteries for sale, retailers can select brands that are supplied in child-resistant packaging and that are marked with warnings alerting customers to the hazards to young children. They should also assess where the best location in their store is to display batteries so they cannot be accessed by children. Examples of battery safety information are given in Annex E of PAS 7055. Further guidance on toys containing batteries is available from the Child Accident Prevention Trust. Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards Officer Image: iStock / Kerrick Anonymous Hotline For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.