The UK’s product safety regime is set to undergo an overhaul to improve public protection and adapt to the digital era, according to ministers.
However, some consumer organizations have been sounding the alarm about dangerous goods available for sale online, such as electric heaters and kitchen blenders, for years. They believe urgent action is necessary rather than further delays.
The government has announced a consultation to update the UK’s product safety laws, some of which date back over 30 years. Ministers aim to align the legislation with modern shopping practices and take into account technological advancements like internet-connected devices and artificial intelligence.
Ministers argue that much of the existing legislation is based on “outdated EU laws” and that now, having left the bloc, the UK can establish its own product safety regime.
The announcement comes on the heels of the British government’s recent step back from proposed post-Brexit changes. It was revealed that the UK will indefinitely retain the EU’s CE product safety mark after pressure from industry and manufacturers.
In addition to the product safety review, the government is also launching a consultation on proposed fire safety rules for domestic upholstered furniture to enhance consumer standards.
There have been repeated calls for urgent action on unsafe household goods. In September 2021, a committee of MPs warned that the UK’s product safety regime was ill-equipped to prevent another tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire, as the shift towards online shopping continues and regulators take on new responsibilities post-Brexit.
Concerns have been raised specifically about legal loopholes that exempt digital platforms like Amazon and eBay from liability for the safety of products sold by third-party sellers.
Consumer group Which? has consistently uncovered dangerous products sold on online marketplaces through its investigations. It stated, “Yet the government and OPSS [Office for Product Safety and Standards] have only produced dither and delay when what is needed is urgent action to bring online shopping safety protections up to date.”
Sue Davies, head of consumer rights and food policy at Which?, said, “It is completely unacceptable for the government to keep postponing action when dangerous items are entering people’s homes every day.
“While promoting UK businesses is important, to fix the UK’s product safety system, the government must swiftly establish new regulations prioritizing consumer safety and enabling strict enforcement against online marketplaces and businesses that violate the rules.”
In February of this year, Which? issued a warning about the sale of “illegal and dangerous” plug-in mini heaters on online marketplaces.
Electrical Safety First, a charity, insisted that the government “must act now” to safeguard online shoppers’ safety and introduce legislation preventing online marketplaces from being exempt from safety laws applied to high street retailers. The organization sees the forthcoming king’s speech as an excellent opportunity to effect these changes.
Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, commented, “I am determined to use our post-Brexit freedoms to identify outdated EU laws placing unnecessary burdens on business and reform them to benefit both companies and consumers.”
She added, “These changes will provide better consumer protections while upholding our world-leading safety standards, and will also cut costs for business to ensure they have the freedom they need to innovate and thrive, helping to create jobs and grow the economy.”