Consumer worries over unsafe products - post Brexit.

Consumer group Which? has warned that Britain could be swamped with dangerous consumer goods post Brexit.

They are telling the government that unless it urgently reforms the current” failing” safety enforcement system, consumers could be at risk.

The Consumer could be put at risk.

The consumer group says dangerous cars, electrical goods and toys could flood the UK market.

Unless continued access to the European ‘Safety Gate’ system is negotiated consumers in Britain will be vulnerable to delays in spotting and dealing with unsafe products.

Which? did an analysis of the data from the ‘Safety Gate’ system, under which 31 European countries alert each other to products with serious safety problems. The found  34% more notifications were issued in 2018 than a decade ago.

Goods flagged as risks.

Over recent months, one of the most publicised alerts flagged up was the risks around children’s putty.  This found that some ‘toxic’ children’s putty could damage children’s reproductive systems.  They also flagged items of clothing which posed a strangulation risk.

Recall notices to the consumer.

Fire-risk HP laptop batteries, explosive honda airbags and a flammable children’s Star Wars Stormtrooper dress up outfit are amongst products recalled as unsafe.

Dangerous non-food products accounted for 2,064 alerts last year.  That is 500 more than in 2008. Then the figure was 1,542. Some of this increase could be down to better reporting by the authorities.  Still, Which? say the increase highlights the scale of unsafe products that must be tackled.

What actions are taken to protect the consumer?

Action can include recalls, warnings or seizing products at the border.  However, all these actions are reliant on increasingly cash-strapped trading standards run by local councils.

Caroline Normand, the Which? director of advocacy, said:

“With more products than ever before being declared unsafe, it’s clear that an already failing consumer enforcement system needs a major shake-up to ensure that people aren’t left at risk from dangerous products in their homes.”

“If it is to make people’s safety the number one priority, the government must secure access to the European alert and information sharing systems after Brexit, as well as introduce major domestic reforms to ensure the consumer is properly protected from unsafe products.”

Cars and Toys fare the worst.

In 2018 toys and vehicles were the product categories with the highest number of safety notices.  655 and 419 respectively, and both with significant increases over 10 years.

Martyn Allen, the technical director at Electrical Safety First, said that after Brexit:

“If no agreement between all contributing member states is found, the UK may be disconnected from Safety Gate.

“For the consumer, the best way to keep yourself protected from faulty products is to make sure you register any electrical goods you purchase with the manufacturer.”

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