Guide
Online marketplace product safety duties
What online marketplace operators need to do to comply with product safety law. Covers new duties under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, existing obligations under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, and practical steps to prepare for compliance before secondary legislation is made.
If you operate an online marketplace that allows third-party sellers to offer products to UK consumers, product safety law applies to you. The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 (PRMA 2025) introduces new statutory duties specifically for online marketplace operators, addressing a gap in the existing framework where unsafe products sold through platforms have been difficult to regulate.
These duties are in addition to any obligations you already have under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Even before the PRMA secondary legislation takes effect, you have existing legal responsibilities if you are classified as a distributor under current law.
Secondary legislation is pending. The PRMA 2025 is an enabling Act. The specific duties, timescales, and penalty levels for online marketplaces will be set out in statutory instruments that have not yet been made as of February 2026. OPSS is expected to consult before making regulations.
However, this does not mean you can wait. Your existing GPSR distributor obligations are already enforceable, and the direction of travel is clear. Businesses that prepare now will be better placed when the new rules commence.
New duties under PRMA 2025
The PRMA 2025 gives the Secretary of State powers to impose product safety duties on online marketplace operators. The Act defines an online marketplace as a platform that enables third-party sellers to offer products to consumers in the UK. This includes e-commerce websites, apps, and social media selling features.
Your existing obligations under GPSR 2005
You do not need to wait for PRMA secondary legislation to act. Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, an online marketplace may already be classified as a distributor if it makes products available to consumers. This classification carries its own set of legal duties.
The GPSR framework was designed before the growth of online platforms, but its obligations still apply. OPSS and Trading Standards have used existing powers to take enforcement action against marketplaces that facilitate the sale of unsafe products.
Steps to prepare for compliance
Even though the detailed PRMA secondary legislation has not yet been made, you can take practical steps now to prepare your platform for the new regime. These steps also strengthen your compliance with existing GPSR obligations.
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1. Assess your current regulatory position
Determine whether your platform is already classified as a distributor under GPSR 2005. If you hold inventory, fulfil orders, or have any control over pricing or product descriptions, you are likely a distributor with existing legal duties. Take legal advice if you are unsure.
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2. Implement seller verification processes
Require all third-party sellers to provide their full business name, registered address, and contact details before they can list products. Verify this information against Companies House or equivalent records. This aligns with the anticipated traceability requirements under PRMA 2025.
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3. Require product safety information in listings
Make it mandatory for sellers to include product safety information in every listing, including applicable safety markings (UKCA or CE), manufacturer or importer contact details, and any required warnings or age restrictions.
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4. Establish a product safety reporting mechanism
Create a clear process for consumers, enforcement authorities, and other parties to report unsafe products on your platform. Designate a single point of contact for OPSS and Trading Standards. Ensure reports are triaged and actioned within defined timescales.
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5. Build a listing removal process
Develop procedures to remove or disable access to product listings identified as unsafe. This should cover removal on notification from enforcement authorities, removal based on consumer reports after investigation, and proactive removal where you identify safety concerns.
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6. Monitor OPSS product safety alerts
Subscribe to OPSS product recall and safety alert notifications. Cross-reference alerts against products listed on your platform and remove affected listings promptly. The OPSS Product Safety Database publishes alerts for recalled and unsafe products.
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7. Maintain records
Keep records of seller verification, product listings, safety reports received, actions taken, and communications with enforcement authorities. Good records demonstrate due diligence and support any defence if enforcement action is taken.
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8. Monitor GOV.UK for secondary legislation
Watch for OPSS consultations and new statutory instruments under PRMA 2025. When secondary legislation is published, review it against your existing processes and identify any gaps. Allow time to implement changes before commencement dates.
The broader product safety framework
Online marketplace duties sit within the wider UK product safety framework. Understanding the enabling Act helps you anticipate the scope and direction of future regulations.
What happens if you do not comply
Under existing GPSR obligations, failure to meet distributor duties is a criminal offence. Trading Standards can prosecute, and OPSS can take enforcement action including issuing compliance notices and stop notices.
The PRMA 2025 enables the introduction of civil penalties for online marketplaces that fail to comply with their new duties. Penalty levels will be set in secondary legislation, but the Act provides powers for significant fines. Civil penalties are intended to operate alongside criminal sanctions, giving OPSS a faster enforcement route.
Beyond formal enforcement, marketplace operators also face reputational risk. OPSS publishes product safety alerts and enforcement actions. Being publicly identified as a platform that facilitated the sale of unsafe products can damage consumer trust and business relationships.