Defences to liability for defective products

摘要

WHEN Australia's product liability regime under Part VA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (TPA) was introduced in 1992 it was heralded at the time as representing "the emerging international standard" for manufacturers. A recent English Court of Appeal decision in Terence Piper v JRI (Manufacturing) Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 1344 (Piper v JRI) suggests that at least when assessing one of the key defences - the absence of defect at the time of supply there is a consistent international approach .