For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties

Manufacturers also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 27 duties
Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 25 duties
Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 23 duties
Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 22 duties
Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 2016 21 duties

Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
CCBSA 2014 2014 22 duties
CAICEA 2004 2004 18 duties

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — Product Liability

s.002

Liability for defective products.

Accept legal liability for damage caused by defective products Manufacturer

s.007

Prohibition on exclusions from liability.

Do not exclude or limit liability for defective products Any Person

Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.001

Purpose and construction of Part I.

s.003

Meaning of “defect”.

s.004

Defences.

s.005

Damage giving rise to liability.

s.006

Application of certain enactments etc.

s.008

Power to modify Part I.

s.009

Application of Part I to Crown.

Part II — Consumer Safety

s.012

Offences against the safety regulations.

6 months imprisonment

Breach of product safety regulations Any Person

s.013

Prohibition notices and notices to warn.

3 months imprisonment

Breach of a prohibition notice or notice to warn Any Person

s.014

Suspension notices.

3 months imprisonment

Breach of a goods suspension notice Any Person

s.015

Appeals against suspension notices.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Courts must set aside a suspension notice if no safety breach occurred Tribunal / Court

s.016

Forfeiture: England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

Unlimited fine

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Courts may order the forfeiture and destruction of unsafe goods Tribunal / Court

s.017

Forfeiture: Scotland.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Sheriff may order forfeiture of unsafe goods in Scotland Tribunal / Court

s.018

Power to obtain information.

Unlimited fine

Fail to provide information or provide false info to safety regulators Any Person

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.010

The general safety requirement.

s.011

Safety regulations.

s.019

Interpretation of Part II.

Part III — Misleading Price Indications

s.020

Offence of giving misleading indication.

Unlimited fine

Give misleading price indications to consumers Any Person

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.021

Meaning of “misleading”.

s.022

Application to provision of services and facilities.

s.023

Application to provision of accommodation etc.

s.024

Defences.

s.025

Code of practice.

s.026

Power to make regulations.

Part IV — Enforcement of Parts II and III

s.027

Enforcement.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Weights and measures authorities must enforce consumer safety provisions Local authority

s.030

Provisions supplemental to s. 29.

Unlimited fine

Unlawfully pretending to be an enforcement officer Any Person

s.032

Obstruction of authorised officer.

Unlimited fine

Obstructing or misleading an enforcement officer Any Person

s.034

Compensation for seizure and detention.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Enforcement authorities must compensate for wrongly seized goods Local authority

Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.028

Test purchases.

s.029

Powers of search etc.

s.031

Power of customs officer to detain goods.

s.033

Appeals against detention of goods.

s.035

Recovery of expenses of enforcement.

Part V — Miscellaneous and Supplemental

s.040

Liability of persons other than principal offender.

2 years imprisonment

Liability for causing others to break consumer law Director or Officer

s.042

Reports etc.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must report to Parliament on consumer safety enforcement Crown / Minister / Government department

Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.036

Amendments of Part I of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

s.037

Power of Commissioners for Revenue and Customs to disclose information

s.038

Restrictions on disclosure of information.

s.039

Defence of due diligence.

s.041

Civil proceedings.

s.043

Financial provisions.

s.044

Service of documents etc.

s.045

Interpretation.

s.046

Meaning of “supply”

s.047

Savings for certain privileges.

s.048

Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.

s.049

Northern Ireland.

s.050

Short title: commencement and transitional provision.

Schedules

s.002

Prohibition Notices and Notices to Warn

3 months imprisonment

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must allow traders to challenge unsafe goods notices Crown / Minister / Government department

s.003

Amendments of Part I of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Ensure safety and provide health information for work equipment and substances Any Person

s.sch004

Minor and Consequential Amendments

Unlimited fine

Sell gunpowder to children or set off fireworks in public Any Person

Browse 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary

s.005

Repeals

s.sch001

Limitation of Actions under Part I

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

MHRA: Software and AI as a medical device (opens in a new tab) Publication
European Commission: EU AI Act (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation (opens in a new tab) Publication
BSI standards catalogue (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
EU GPSR guidance for Northern Ireland (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Publication
OPSS: Reporting product safety issues (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
ABI: Business insurance guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Placing manufactured goods on the UK market (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Find your local Trading Standards office (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
... and 8 more

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

CMA

Primary

Competition and Markets Authority

Promotes competitive markets and tackles unfair behaviour. Investigates mergers, enforces competition law, and has specific digital markets powers. Digital Markets Unit (DMU) …

OPSS

Office for Product Safety and Standards

Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance …

Trading Standards

Trading Standards (Local Authority)

Enforces consumer protection legislation including food labelling, weights and measures, product safety, and fair trading. Part of local authority structure. Investigates food …

Connected legislation

2 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Secondary legislation (2)

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.