The Minster for Consumer Protection, Nick McKim, today extended the interim ban on the sale of small, high-powered magnets due to the risk of serious injury or death if swallowed by children.
The extension means the ban is now in place until Tuesday 20 November 2012.
Mr McKim said the magnets had been involved in a number of incidents across Australia where children have swallowed them and suffered serious injury and in at least one case death.
"Some older children and teenagers have also swallowed the magnets after using them as imitation tongue or lip piercings," he said.
"If a child swallows more than one of these high-powered magnets, they can attach to each other across the intestinal wall and perforate the intestine, requiring emergency surgery.  
"I would like to again remind parents to always keep small objects that could pose a choking hazard away from children and to seek medical attention immediately if they suspect their child has swallowed small, high-powered magnets."
Mr McKim said sets of small, high-powered rare-earth magnets, with diameters of approximately 4mm to 5mm have been marketed under various names, including 'BuckyBalls', 'Neocubes' and 'Neodymium sphere magnets', and as 'executive toys' for adults to use to create patterns and build shapes.
He said relevant Ministers across Australia agreed to impose an interim ban on these products in late August, to ensure that the public is protected from the risk that the magnets pose. 
"Since that time the ACCC has undertaken consultation with manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of the products, along with academics and health professionals, to determine whether to impose a permanent ban on these magnets or whether other safety measures can be implemented to address the risks associated with these magnets.
"Section 109 of the Australian Consumer Law empowers State Ministers to impose an interim ban on a product if it appears that a product, or a reasonably foreseeable use or misuse of the product, will or may cause injury to any person."
Mr McKim said an interim ban is effective for a period of 60 days and can be extended for a further 30 days if required.  Only the Commonwealth Minister is authorised to impose a permanent ban on a product.
For more information on product safety visit www.productsafety.gov.au or contact Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading on 1300 65 44 99 or visit www.consumer.tas.gov.au