Australian retailer pulls AirTags off shelves due to potential hazard

A new safety concern with Apple’s new AirTag tracker has prompted Australian retailer Officeworks to remove the new item from its store’s shelves. The source of the information was a Reddit thread of a user’s experience when trying to purchase one. The user tried to buy AirTags but the store was unable to locate them.

That’s when an Officeworks representative notified the user that AirTags were removed from its store’s shelves citing a safety risk with the accessibility of the small button-battery. The ACCC confirmed to Gizmodo AU that the product was indeed removed for the safety concern.

The Apple AirTag range will be temporarily unavailable for purchase from Officeworks[…] The product will not be stocked by Officeworks until further guidance is provided from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.” – Officeworks in an email to Gizmodo

The ACCC expects that Apple will comply with Australia’s new Information Standard, which requires warning symbols on packaging and information in the product’s instructions when button batteries are involved. Australia’s deadline for the Information Standard is June 21 2022.

To clarify, only Officeworks has pulled the AirTags from shelves. Gizmodo AU reports that AirTags are still available from other retailers within Australia including Apple, JB Hi-Fi, and Big W.

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