Federal minister bans hoverboards

Federal minister for small business and assistant treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer has issued a temporary ban on the sale of hoverboards that do not meet Australia’s safety standards.

Consumer watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommended the ban to the minister after four house fires were directly linked to faulty chargers and lithium-ion batteries supplied with cheap hoverboards.

The ban will last for 60 days while the ACCC consults with hoverboard suppliers and safety experts on whether further action will be taken.

The ACCC advised customers not to charge or use hoverboards until their supplier can confirm whether it is safe.

The two-wheeled ‘self-balancing’ toys became the latest fad during Christmas last year, resulting in a deluge of cheap hoverboards flooding the Australian market.

So far, the ACCC has already recalled 20 different hoverboard brands which were sold at mainstream resellers such as Kogan, Harvey Norman, Toyworld and Anaconda.

ACCC hoverboard recalls

• Hunter Sports—Moonwalker Electric Balancing Scooter sold at BIG W(link is external) 
• eBay Trader 'SelloProducts'—Self-Balancing 2 wheels Electric Scooter(link is external)
• Catchoftheday.com.au Pty Ltd—AirWalk Self-Balancing Scooter(link is external)
• Techwheel—Techwheel Z-01 (ChargerOnly)(link is external)
• Scooter Emporium—Self Balancing Scooter with Charger(link is external)
• Go Easy Australia - Go Skitz Self Balancing E Board models S01 & S03 ( Charger Only)(link is external)
• Mod Products—Mod Board Model MOD001(Charger Only)(link is external)
• Jyro Pty Ltd—Jyro Self-Balancing 2 Wheel Electric Scooter(link is external)
• Smart Scooter ANZ—Smart Scooter 'Hoverboard'(link is external)
• TCB Contracting Pty Ltd—Balancing Scooter 'Hoverboard'(link is external)
• Freego Australasia Pty Ltd—Freego Hoverboard W1, W2 and W2SR (Charger Only)(link is external)
• Smart Wheels Australia Pty Ltd—"Neo" Hoverboard (Charger and Appliance Connector Only)(link is external)
• Ohmama—"Swegway" Hoverboard(link is external)
• Crazy Technology Pty Ltd—Smart Electric Self-Balancing Scooter / Hoverboard (Charger Only)(link is external)
• Austwide Consumer Products—Two Wheel Self Balance Drift Board ("Hoverboard")(link is external)
• Glideboard—Balance Wheel Electric Scooter ("Hoverboards")(link is external)
• Awesomewheels Pty Ltd—SEGGi Self-Balancing 2 Wheel Electric Scooter ("Hoverboard")(link is external)
• Home Garden Sales—Smart Self-Balancing Scooter/Hoverboard Charger (link is external)
• Hoverboard Store—2 Wheel Self-Balancing Scooter/ Hoverboard (Charger Only)(link is external)
• DayNight Technology Pty Ltd—Self-Balancing Scooter/Hoverboard