The Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, Joe Hockey, today announced the introduction of a new safety standard for bicycle helmets.
"The new standard will ensure helmets sold in Australia provide the necessary head protection for cyclists," the Minister said.
"Studies have shown that the introduction of the compulsory wearing of bicycle helmets has resulted in the number of bicyclists killed or admitted to hospitals falling by over 39% since 1993.
"While helmet wearing is compulsory, its effectiveness would be reduced without a mandatory safety standard."
The updated standard is the result of a recently completed review of the mandatory standard under the Trade Practices Act 1974. The review confirmed the need for regulation to ensure the supply of safe helmets.
"Without a mandatory standard, consumers would have difficulty identifying safe helmets that provide necessary head protection, from those that do not," the Minister said
"The revised mandatory standard is based on Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2063:1996 which provides improved protection for cyclists from better helmet coverage to the head and in particular to the forehead, jaw and temple."
The review of the mandatory standard also found that the Snell B95 standard for protective headgear promulgated by the Snell Memorial Foundation in the United States, provides comparable head protection to the Australian standard.
"Australian manufacturers and importers will now be able meet the Australian Standard or the Snell B95 standard. This will provide cyclists with greater choice in the helmets they wish to buy.
The regulations provide time for retailers and manufacturers to adjust to the new requirements, by allowing the sale of helmets meeting the old mandatory standard up until 31 August 2001.