The Mandatory Sunglasses Standards

19 February 2018

Dear Valued Partner,

Update: New Standards for Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles

The new Australian and New Zealand sunglasses Standard AS/NZS 1067.1:2016 was published on 30 September 2016. Subsequently the mandatory Consumer Goods (Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles) Safety Standards 2017 was also updated on the October 2017. These standards specify the minimum requirements for sunglasses and fashion spectacles to be compliant products in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The update to both standards is closely aligned to International Standard ISO 12312-1:2013, and includes higher requirements for UVR protection to address the severity of Australia and New Zealand’s climatic conditions.

The changeover to the new standards must be completed by 1 July 2019.

What has changed?

Additional information will be required on product labelling, either in the form of an indelible marking on the sunglass frame, a removable label affixed to the lens, a removable label securely attached or tied to the frame, the packaging that accompanies the sunglasses at the point of supply or sale or any combination of these means.

Product testings will also see some updates, however note all Sunshades Eyewear products currently in store and in production will not be affected.

Please refer to Appendix for more details.

What does this mean?

All sunglasses and fashion spectacles available for sale in Australia and New Zealand markets will require compliance with either the Consumer Goods (Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles) Safety Standard 2017, or AS/NZS 1067.1:2016, from 1 July 2019.

Sunshades Eyewear has begun the process of updating all manufacturing in alignment with both Standards with the guidance of Optics and Radiometry Laboratory (ORLAB) during the early transition stages. Production will commence from February 2018, approx. 18 months prior to the official changeover date. Therefore, all stock arriving in store July 2018 will be tagged with updated compliance componentry, in accordance with new standard testings.

Sunshades Eyewear will also conduct a market overview and distribute merchandise kits January 2019 to ensure any retained stock in store is compliant to the new standards.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) may continue to periodically visit your store to ensure compliance. The ACCC requires all sunglasses and fashion spectacles to carry a swing tag with mandatory information and labelling (the Appendix contains an extract from AS/NZS 1067.1:2016). It is illegal to sell eyewear without this labelling. Fines for non-compliance are up to $1.1 million for companies and up to $220,000 for individuals. We kindly remind our partners to continue regular monitoring of floor stock for swing tags - remove eyewear that does not have a swing tag from the sales floor immediately and notify your Sunshades Eyewear account manager or contact Customer Service on 02 8303 7300 for a replacement. Once swing tags have been replaced the stock can return to the sales floor.

Sunshades Eyewear will ensure one hundred percent compliance of all products and communicate any updates with partners throughout this period to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

Yours faithfully,

Rodney Grunseit Chief Executive Officer, Sunshades Eyewear

110a McEvoy Street, Alexandria NSW 2015 Phone: +21 2 8303 7300

APPENDIX INFORMATION AND LABELLING Information to be supplied with each pair of sunglasses. (a)

Identification of model.

(b)

Name and address of the manufacturer/supplier.

(c)

Reference to this Standard: AS/NZS 1067.1:2016 (this is not required for the Consumer Goods (Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles) Safety Standard 2017).

(d)

Type of filter, if photochromic and/or polarizing.

(e)

Category information:

(g)

(i)

Number of the filter category.

(ii)

Description of the filter category in the form of the category number, description and usage, as given in Table 5. Use of the pictograms is optional. If used, the minimum height of the symbols shall be 5 mm.

Restrictions of use, which shall include at least the following: (i)

Not for direct observation of the sun.

(ii)

Not for protection against artificial light sources, e.g. solaria.

(iii)

Not for use as eye protection against mechanical impact hazards.

(iv)

Any other restrictions deemed appropriate to be communicated by the manufacturer, e.g. increased or decreased transmittance of photochromic glasses due to high or low temperatures or to low light conditions.

(h)

When the filter does not meet the necessary requirements for driving and for filter category 4, the following warning, 'NOT SUITABLE FOR DRIVING AND ROAD USE' and either of the symbols shown in Figure 2. The minimum height of the symbol shall be 5 mm.

(i)

When the filter is Category 1 to 3 the following warning, 'NOT SUITABLE FOR DRIVING IN TWILIGHT OR AT NIGHT' or 'NOT SUITABLE FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT OR UNDER CONDITIONS OF DULL LIGHT'. The same warning applies to photochromic filters for which the luminous transmittance in the faded conditions is Category 1 to 3.

(j)

Instructions for care and cleaning should be included where use of inappropriate cleaning products could damage the sunglasses. A list of damaging products not suitable for cleaning should also be included.

FIGURE 2 SYMBOL-'NOT SUITABLE FOR DRIVING AND ROAD USE'

or

110a McEvoy Street, Alexandria NSW 2015 Phone: +21 2 8303 7300

TABLE 5 DESCRIPTION OF FILTER CATEGORIES AND ASSIGNED SYMBOLS Filter category

Description

Usage

Additional required information

Optional symbol

Very limited reduction of sunglare

0

1

Some UV protection Limited protection against sunglare

2

Some UV protection Good protection against sunglare

Light tint sunglasses of fashion spectacles

Good UV protection High protection against sunglare

General purpose sunglasses 3

Good UV protection Very high protection against extreme sunglare, eg. at sea, over snowfields, on high mountains, or in desert

Very dark special purpose sunglassesvery high sunglare reduction

4

Not suitable for driving in twilight or at night; or not suitable for driving at night or under dull light conditions

Not suitable for road use and driving

One of the symbols in figure 2 Good UV protection NOTE: Use of the pictograms is optional. If used the min height of the symbols shall be 5mm.

TESTING The National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) will give the green light for new standard testings to commence by the end of January 2018. Updates/changes include: (a)

Wide angle scatter (Haze)

(b)

Resistance to ignition

(c)

Refractive properties (UV limits)

(d)

Frame deformation and filter retention

NOTE: All products currently in store and in production will not be affected by the changes/updates in testings.

110a McEvoy Street, Alexandria NSW 2015 Phone: +21 2 8303 7300