Thermomix parent company Vorwerk has paid $79,200 in penalties for allegedly misrepresenting two of its products as approved by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued Vorwerk Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Thermomix in Australia, four infringement notices for the misleading claims on its TM6 cooking product and Kobold cordless vacuum and mop.
According to the ACCC, Thermomix promoted the products online with claims such as ‘NDIS approved’, ‘NDIS-registered product’, ‘NDIS-consumables’, ‘NDIS assistive technology’, and ‘NDIS equipment’ in November 2024 and March 2025.
The timing for the fine could not be worse – as the company conducts a national roadshow this week to launch its new TM7 product – including a launch held on Monday this week at Tresco House in Elizabeth Bay.
Representatives for Thermomix, Havas Public Relations, have been contacted for comment from the company, but no statement has been issued at the time of publication.
“The NDIS does not provide specific approval for any particular goods or services. Each NDIS participant has unique needs, and what’s funded under their plan is determined individually, not through a list of approved products. There are no categories of goods or services which are automatically NDIS approved or funded for all NDIS participants,” Gina Cass-Gottlieb, ACCC Chair, said.
“Misleading consumers experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage is of concern to us, and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The Australian Government’s NDIS (Fair Price and Australian Consumer Law) Taskforce, established in December 2023, is working to address concerns that NDIS participants may be paying higher prices for goods and services compared to other consumers.
Comprised of the ACCC, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the taskforce was formed to investigate potential breaches of Australian Consumer Law and ensure fair pricing practices within the NDIS.
This is not the first time Thermomix in Australia faced legal action from the ACCC.
In 2018, the Federal Court of Australia ordered the company to pay $4.6 million in penalties for continuing to supply and promote its TM31 appliance despite having known a safety issue affecting the product, and for making misleading representations to certain consumers about their consumer guarantee rights.
Appliance Retailer first reported an issue with burns suffered by the Thermomix TM31 machine in 2016.
In 2022, Thermomix issued a safety notice relating to problems associated with its TM6 product.