News story

Shop smart and stay safe

The public are being urged to be wary when buying products from online platforms and to check on GOV.UK whether they have been recalled.

Campaign asset bear image.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is working with its partners Netmums and the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) to encourage people to ensure they are buying safe products from reliable sources.

The eye-catching social media campaign, launched today (Tuesday March 7) concentrates on three main messages.

  1. Consumers should be aware that not everything advertised on an online platform is sold by that platform.

  2. They should search ‘product recalls’ on GOV.UK to see if any problems have been identified with a potential purchase.

  3. And if they think they have bought an unsafe product they should report it

  • In England or Wales, report it to Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133
  • In Scotland, report it to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000
  • In Northern Ireland, report it to your local district council

The campaign materials can be downloaded from the Consumer Safety Awareness Campaigns Materials Page.

If you’re reposting on Twitter or Facebook, please include the campaign hashtag #UKProductSafety.

Published 7 March 2023