Australian retailer Officeworks is suspending the sale of a new Apple product as it evaluates the risk the battery poses to children.
The global tech giant last week launched the new AirTag product.
The tags attach to everyday items and use Apples Find My app to help users locate them when they go missing.
Officeworks, however, wont be selling the AirTags for the time being.
The retailer stopped short of confirming what the reason behind the pause was and said it was in consultation with the Australian consumer watchdog.
The new Apple AirTags. Credit: Apple
The Apple Air Tag range will temporarily be unavailable from purchase from Officeworks, a spokesperson said.
The product will not be stocked by Officeworks until further guidance is provided from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Officeworks continues to work with Apple to address any safety concerns.
A spokesperson for the ACCC said it was aware of reports concerning the accessibility of button batteries in the AirTag product.
If a supplier finds that a product they supply is unsafe, the ACCC expects the supplier to conduct a voluntary recall to advise consumers of the risk, address the safety issue, or remove the product from the market, the spokesperson said.
Retailer Officeworks will temporarily stop selling AirTags. Credit: DAVE HUNT/AAPIMAGE
An Apple spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au the product was designed to be safe.
AirTag is designed to meet international child safety standards, including those in Australia, by requiring a two-step push-and-turn mechanism to access the user-replaceable battery, the spokesperson said.
We are following the regulations closely and are working to ensure that our products will meet or exceed new standards, including those for package labelling, well ahead of the timeline required.
7NEWS.com.au understands Apple is looking at updating product packaging to comply with new, tighter standards to be enforced from July.
Button batteries were the focal point of a government crackdown last December.
The Federal Government announced new mandatory safety and information standards for their use in products.
An error message meets customers on the Officeworks website page for AirTags. Credit: Officeworks
That includes strict requirements on how the batteries are secured in products, child restraint packaging and warnings and information.
If swallowed, the batteries could get stuck in a childs throat and cause a chemical reaction that burns through tissue.
Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar last year said tightening measures on the supply of the batteries proved how dangerous they could be.
Todays announcement is also a timely reminder in the lead up to Christmas of the dangers of button batteries and to remind parents to be alert to any that may exist in childrens presents this year, he said in December.
