Guide

Ensure product safety compliance for retailers

Product safety compliance checklist for retailers. Covers supplier vetting, safety marking verification, recall procedures, OPSS reporting, and preparation for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

UK-wide

Use this checklist to verify your product safety arrangements meet current legal requirements. Retailers are responsible for ensuring products they sell are safe, even if they did not manufacture them. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces product safety law and can seize unsafe products, issue unlimited fines, and prosecute retailers.

  1. All suppliers are authorised distributors or verified manufacturers

  2. Supplier contracts include product safety and compliance obligations

  3. Test certificates and conformity declarations obtained for each product line

  4. Supplier audit or questionnaire completed within last 12 months

  5. Import documentation verified for goods sourced from outside the UK

  1. Products carry correct conformity marking (UKCA for GB market, CE where still accepted)

  2. Product labelling includes manufacturer or importer name and address

  3. Traceability information (batch numbers, serial numbers) recorded

  4. Age warnings and safety instructions present where required

  5. Testing certificates held on file and accessible for inspection

  1. Written product recall procedure in place

  2. Designated person responsible for product safety within the business

  3. System for monitoring OPSS product recall alerts

  4. Customer contact records sufficient to notify affected buyers

  5. Process for removing recalled products from sale immediately

  6. Template notification letter or email ready for recall situations

  1. Purchase records identify each supplier for every product line

  2. Records retained for minimum 10 years (for product liability claims)

  3. Stock rotation system prevents sale of recalled or expired products

  4. Customer sales records enable contact if recall is needed

Preparing for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025

The PRMA 2025 is an enabling Act that will update the UK product safety framework through secondary legislation. While detailed regulations are pending, retailers should prepare for new obligations, particularly around online marketplace duties and supply chain traceability.

  1. Monitoring OPSS announcements for secondary legislation commencement dates

  2. If selling via online marketplaces, reviewing platform compliance duties

  3. Supply chain documentation supports full product traceability

  4. UKCA and CE marking status reviewed for all product categories

If you answered 'no' to any items in the supplier vetting or recall procedures sections, address these as a priority. Selling unsafe products is a criminal offence with unlimited fines and up to 12 months imprisonment.

Specialist retail licences and registrations

Specialist licences required for specific retail activities including tobacco registration, fireworks sales, pet shops, scrap metal dealing, and market trading. For general retail compliance, see the Start a retail business journey.

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Securing seabed rights is the critical first step for offshore wind projects in UK waters. The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland manage competitive leasing rounds with option fees, operational rent, and up to 60-year lease terms.

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Product standards and CE marking for the Northern Ireland market

How product standards and marking requirements differ for the Northern Ireland market under the Windsor Framework. Covers CE marking requirements, why UKCA marking is not valid in NI, the EU General Product Safety Regulation applying in NI from December 2024, and dual compliance obligations for businesses selling across the whole UK.

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