United Kingdom: Product Liability & Safety

Two recent High Court judgments have illustrated the importance of public law in the food and consumer sector, highlighting the possibility of successful judicial review challenges to decisions made by public bodies.

How can intellectual property rights protect innovations designed specifically for women and underrepresented groups in product safety? This article explores the intersection of inclusive design and IP strategy, examining patents, design rights, and trade marks as tools for safeguarding innovations that address long-overlooked safety gaps in consumer products.

Medical Protection has released a paper calling for law reform to address the liability gap when doctors' decisions are influenced by AI recommender systems.

On 31 March 2026, the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Product Safety and Standards launched a consultation on a proposed new product safety...

The UK government has launched consultations proposing a fundamental overhaul of product safety regulation that would transform online marketplaces from passive platforms into active regulatory gatekeepers. These reforms introduce proactive duties requiring marketplaces to prevent, identify and remove dangerous products through systematic risk management, seller verification and enhanced enforcement mechanisms.

The UK government has released its Construction Products Reform White Paper and General Safety Requirement consultation, proposing sweeping changes to construction products regulation. These reforms introduce stricter compliance requirements, enhanced enforcement powers including criminal sanctions and unlimited fines, and establish clear accountability across all construction industry stakeholders from manufacturers to developers.

The last few years have seen major reforms to the regulation of packaging in the EU and the UK which affect all businesses...

With the latest edition of our Retail and Consumer Sector Horizon Scanner, a powerful tool designed to enhance your decision-making and mitigate legal risks...

2024 was a particularly eventful year in terms of European regulations on consumer goods. Besides the adoption of several important regulations, like the New Directive on liability for defective products...