Tasman Sheepskin Tannery Pty Ltd - s.87B undertaking

Tasman Sheepskin Tannery Pty Ltd (TST) is a manufacturer and supplier of medical sheepskins used as bed or chair underlays in order to distribute and relieve pressure so as to prevent the onset of pressure sores in immobile patients.

TST has admitted to incorrectly representing, on its website and the medical sheepskins themselves, that its medical sheepskins comply with the voluntary Australian standard for medical sheepskins, AS 4480.1-1998 (the Standard).

ACCC inspections of TST's sheepskins revealed they contained grass seed matter, contrary to the Standard, and did not display the labelling required by the Standard, in particular, the special laundering instructions.

TST has provided court enforceable undertakings to the ACCC that it will:

• refrain from representing that its medical sheepskins comply with the Standard in circumstances where they do not;
• write to each of its customers informing them of the undertaking and offering to replace or refund any of its medical sheepskins that do not display the labelling required under the Standard and/or contain grass seed matter; and
• implement a trade practices compliance program, to be maintained for a period of 3 years, for TST employees and other persons involved in its business.