Sector-specific product safety regulations

Sector-specific product safety regulations apply in addition to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and Consumer Protection Act 1987. Where a sector-specific regime covers a product, it takes precedence over the general safety framework for the matters it addresses. Use this reference to identify which regulations apply to the products you manufacture, import, or supply.

For the overarching product safety framework, see Understanding UK product safety law. For risk assessment procedures, see Carry out a product safety risk assessment.

Toys

Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011

Key requirements for toy safety under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, including EN 71 standards, testing, marking, and supply chain duties.

Legislation: Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1881), implementing the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
Safety standards: EN 71 series: physical/mechanical (EN 71-1), flammability (EN 71-2), migration of certain elements (EN 71-3), chemical (EN 71-9/10/11), electrical (EN 62115)
Essential safety requirements: Toys must not jeopardise the safety or health of users or third parties. Risks include physical/mechanical, flammability, chemical, electrical, radioactivity, and hygiene
Age warnings: Mandatory age warnings where toys are unsuitable for children under 36 months. Warning must include specific risk description
Marking requirements: UKCA marking (or CE marking under recognition arrangements). Manufacturer name/address. Traceability information (type, batch, serial number)
Technical documentation: Manufacturers must compile a technical file including design, manufacturing details, safety assessment, list of applied standards, and test reports
Supply chain duties: Manufacturers: ensure conformity, compile technical file, apply marking. Importers: verify compliance before placing on UK market. Distributors: verify marking and documentation present
Enforcement: Trading Standards and OPSS. Powers to withdraw, recall, and prohibit supply of non-compliant toys

Electrical equipment

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016

Low voltage directive requirements for electrical equipment, voltage range, safety objectives, and compliance obligations.

Legislation: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1101), implementing the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
Voltage range: Covers equipment designed for use with a voltage rating between 50V and 1,000V AC or 75V and 1,500V DC
Essential safety objectives: Protection of persons and domestic animals against hazards from electrical equipment: electric shock, temperature effects, radiation, mechanical, chemical
Conformity assessment: Internal production control (Module A). Manufacturer self-certifies against essential safety objectives and relevant designated standards
Marking: UKCA marking required for Great Britain market. CE marking accepted under recognition arrangements
Technical documentation: General description of equipment, conceptual design and manufacturing drawings, descriptions of standards applied, results of design calculations and examinations
Exclusions: Excludes: equipment for use in explosive atmospheres, radiology and medical equipment, electrical parts for goods and passenger lifts, electricity meters, plugs and socket outlets for domestic use, electric fence controllers, radio-electrical interference

Cosmetics

Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013

Requirements for cosmetics sold in the UK including product information file, safety assessment, OPSS notification, and labelling.

Legislation: Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1478), enforcing retained EU Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Product Information File (PIF): Must contain: product description, safety report, manufacturing method description, proof of claimed effects, data on animal testing
Safety assessment: Must be carried out by a person holding a diploma in pharmacy, toxicology, medicine, or similar discipline. Must assess the finished product and its ingredients
OPSS notification: Products must be notified to OPSS via the Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications (SCPN) service before being placed on the UK market
Labelling requirements: Name/address of responsible person, nominal content, date of minimum durability or PAO symbol, precautions, batch code, product function, full ingredients list (INCI names)
Prohibited/restricted substances: Annexes list over 1,300 prohibited substances and restricted substances with maximum concentration limits
UK Responsible Person: Must be established in the UK. Ensures compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 for each product placed on the UK market
Enforcement: Trading Standards (local enforcement) and OPSS (national). Offences carry unlimited fine on conviction

Upholstered furniture

Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988

Fire resistance requirements for domestic upholstered furniture, testing standards, labelling, and due diligence defence.

Legislation: Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/1324) as amended 1989, 1993, 2010
Scope: Domestic upholstered furniture including sofas, beds, mattresses, pillows, cushions, and children's furniture. Does not cover sleeping bags, carpets, curtains, or car seats
Filling materials: Must pass ignitability tests to BS 5852 (cigarette and match equivalent tests). Applies to all filling materials including foam, fibre, and feathers
Cover fabrics: Fabrics covering filling materials must resist ignition from a smouldering cigarette (BS 5852 Part 1) and match equivalent (BS 5852 Part 2, where required)
Display label: Permanently attached label required on all new furniture stating compliance. Must include the words 'CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE'
Permanent label: Sewn-in label with fire resistance information that must remain with the item for its useful life
Due diligence defence: Defence available if the supplier took all reasonable steps and exercised due diligence to avoid committing the offence
Enforcement: Trading Standards. Criminal offence to supply non-compliant furniture: unlimited fine on conviction
Second-hand furniture: Regulations also apply to second-hand and reconditioned furniture sold by businesses (including charity shops)

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018

PPE risk categories, conformity assessment by category, and supply chain duties for PPE placed on the UK market.

Legislation: Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/390), enforcing retained EU Regulation (EU) 2016/425
Category I (simple design): Protects against minimal risks: superficial mechanical injury, contact with water/cleaning materials, contact with hot surfaces not exceeding 50C, UV damage (sunglasses). Self-certification by manufacturer
Category II (intermediate): Risks not covered by Categories I or III. Requires UK type-examination by an approved body. Examples: high-visibility clothing, safety helmets, protective gloves
Category III (complex design): Protects against risks that may cause very serious consequences (death or irreversible health damage). Requires UK type-examination PLUS ongoing production surveillance. Examples: respiratory protection, fall protection, chemical protection
Conformity assessment: Category I: internal production control (Module A). Category II: UK type-examination (Module B) plus conformity to type (Module C). Category III: Module B plus Module C2 or Module D
Technical documentation: Design and manufacturing data, list of applied standards, risk assessment, test reports, UK Declaration of Conformity
Instructions: User instructions mandatory with every PPE item: storage, use, maintenance, limitations, replacement criteria
Marking: UKCA marking. PPE must also show the name of the manufacturer, category, and applicable standard reference

Machinery

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

Essential health and safety requirements for machinery, conformity assessment, and supply chain obligations.

Legislation: Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1597), implementing the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
Scope: Machinery: assembly of linked parts with at least one moving part, with a specific application. Also covers partly completed machinery, interchangeable equipment, safety components
Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs): Annex I contains detailed EHSRs covering: general principles, controls, mechanical hazards, guards, electrical/thermal/noise/vibration hazards, maintenance, and information
Risk assessment: Manufacturer must carry out a risk assessment to identify all hazards and design/engineer the machinery to eliminate or reduce risks in accordance with the EHSR hierarchy
Technical file: Must include: general description, overall drawings, detailed drawings, standards list, risk assessment results, test reports, instructions, UK Declaration of Conformity
Declaration of Conformity: Manufacturer or authorised representative must draw up a UK Declaration of Conformity for each machine
Marking: UKCA marking. Must also show: business name and address, designation, serial number, year of construction
Excluded machinery: Weapons, motor vehicles for road use, seagoing vessels, agricultural/forestry tractors (separate regulations), cableways, certain amusement park equipment
Partly completed machinery: Must be accompanied by an assembly instructions document and UK Declaration of Incorporation. Cannot bear UKCA marking

Northern Ireland: EU rules apply

Other regulated product categories

The regulations listed above are the most commonly applicable. Many other product categories have their own sector-specific safety requirements, including:

Medical devices: Medical Devices Regulations 2002 — regulated by MHRA
Construction products: Construction Products Regulation 2011 — regulated by OPSS
Gas appliances: Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018 — regulated by OPSS and HSE
Pressure equipment: Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 — regulated by HSE
Radio and telecommunications equipment: Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 — regulated by Ofcom
Recreational craft: Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 — regulated by OPSS
Pyrotechnics: Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 — regulated by OPSS

If your product is not covered by a named sector-specific regime, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply as the baseline. Use the OPSS product safety finder on GOV.UK to check whether a specific regulation applies to your product category.

OPSS product safety guidance for businesses

Business Context Testing

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Sector-specific product safety regulations

Toys

Electrical equipment

Cosmetics

Upholstered furniture

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Machinery

Northern Ireland: EU rules apply

Other regulated product categories

Compliance Assistant

🧪 Business Context Testing

◉ Content Graph

Toys

Electrical equipment

Cosmetics

Upholstered furniture

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Machinery

Northern Ireland: EU rules apply

Other regulated product categories

Related guides in General Compliance

Business Context Testing

Content Graph