Voluntary Recalls Influenced by Public Regulation
Over the past three decades, public regulation has often been added to national law in order to support voluntary recalls. For example, Australia developed the Trade Practices Act 1986 (renamed in 2010 as the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), which gave regulators the power to conduct a mandatory recall. Although very rarely exercised formally (as with other countries allowing for mandatory recalls), suppliers have become much more likely to conduct a ‘voluntary’ recall. Furthermore, if a voluntary recall takes place, suppliers must notify the government. In 2010, Australia’s regulator published guidelines as to what constituted a voluntary recall and how to go about conducting one effectively, and also improved an internet portal site to publicise notified recalls. Other major importing countries have also improved websites and guidance manuals for recalls in recent years, including the US, the EU and Japan.