Corporate report

OPSS Delivery Report 2024-2025

Published 30 July 2025

Foreword

The primary mission of this Government and the driving force of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is stronger economic growth: not just growth that looks good on paper, but growth that is seen and is felt on our high streets, in our towns and cities, and in the communities we serve. Good regulation, delivered in the right way, supports innovation and growth. In March this year the government published its action plan to ensure that regulation and regulators support economic growth.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK’s national product regulator and sits at the heart of our product regulation system. Its primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, enabling trade and growth by ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence. An effective product regulatory system ensures shops and small businesses can compete on a level playing field with online marketplaces and global tech companies, and ensures consumers and businesses have the right protections in place. Demonstrating the importance this Government attaches to both growth and safety, the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill was one of the first pieces of legislation introduced in this Parliament, securing Royal Assent and becoming an Act on 21 July 2025. This will further cement the UK’s status as a world leader in product regulation and safety, aligning protections to modern markets and technologies and simplifying requirements for businesses.

During the year, OPSS enforcement activity has addressed important product safety issues such as the causes of e-bike fires, the risks to young children posed by water beads, and concerns with some models of domestic appliances, as well as supporting local authority trading standards in complex cases. Whilst recognising these successes, there is more work to do, and this Government is not complacent; I remain concerned particularly about the willingness of online marketplaces to take appropriate action to protect consumers, and we continue to engage with them ahead of any potential regulatory reforms.

This Government wants proportionate regulation to address market failures and expects regulators to be efficient and effective in their operations. Product regulation continues to be an area of careful and proportionate regulation, supporting growth and innovation, providing transparency and predictability for business, whilst delivering fundamental protections for consumers and the environment.

Justin Madders

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets)

Executive summary

OPSS is the UK’s national product regulator. The regulations we enforce ensure that everyday products such as toys, electricals and cosmetics are safe for use; they ensure accurate weighing and measuring so that consumers get what they pay for; they ensure construction products perform as they should in the built environment; and they ensure products such as timber and electricals are sourced or disposed of in the right way to avoid harm to the environment.

We support DBT ministers in the development and implementation of product safety, metrology and hallmarking policy, and MHCLG Ministers on associated responsibilities relating to construction products. We enforce product regulations for six different government departments, sometimes acting as the sole enforcement authority and in other areas working with local authorities to coordinate national and local enforcement activities.

Product safety policy

We supported ministers to introduce the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill in response to the priorities of the Government. The bill secured Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, becoming an act. This builds on engagement with stakeholders on what a future product safety and metrology regime should look like. The powers in the act will allow us to create clear definitions of accountability within supply chains, as well as giving us enabling powers so we can update or change our regulations in the future or introduce new ones to support changing technologies and market innovations, and to maintain necessary consumer protections.

We reviewed the UK’s furniture fire safety regulations; in January 2025 Government published a policy paper identifying the main themes requiring attention, based on evidence and stakeholders’ views. Immediate action has been taken to reduce babies and children’s exposure to harmful chemicals, with engagement continuing to identify where further regulatory changes will be needed.

We updated cosmetics regulations three times during the year in the light of scientific advice, and published two calls for evidence concerning proposed changes to noise measurement for outdoor equipment, and proposed changes to standardise some mobile device chargers and reduce e-waste.

Product regulation and enforcement

We continued our work to improve compliance by online marketplaces, with test purchases, market surveillance and enforcement where appropriate. We undertook a range of regulatory interventions to address safety concerns with e-bikes and e-scooters, working across government to improve the evidence base, issuing statutory guidance to makers and suppliers, a consumer campaign to raise awareness of the risks, completed targeted compliance checks at the border, and issuing product recall notices and product safety alerts.

We conducted investigations into a range of products for babies and children, including baby sleeping products that posed suffocation risks, and children’s fancy dress costumes that posed an unacceptable fire risk. We took action to remove online listings of water beads as toys, and investigated fridge-freezers and dishwashers to check their compliance and efficiency. We supported local authorities in complex cases involving gas boilers and water heaters, and in their work as border authorities where they check high risk consignments and prevent unsafe and non-compliant products from entering the UK market.

Weights and measures

We undertook work to enforce legal metrology regulations ranging from road tanker fuel measuring systems to platform weighing systems, and gas and electricity meters. We monitored the weights and measures activity of local authorities, which along with OPSS own metering work ensures that consumers can have confidence in metered fuels and products sold by weight or volume.

Construction products

OPSS undertook proactive market surveillance, industry engagement, and regulatory collaboration, to ensure a visible regulatory presence. We intervened in cases of non-compliant construction products including fire doors, insulation, and toughened glass. We initiated an extensive programme of product testing, including cables, plywood, smoke control dampers and vapour barriers, while undertaking inspections of manufacturers to verify production controls. We have observed better industry engagement with regulation, and early indications of behavioural change across the construction products supply chain. This has included some self-referrals by manufacturers and suppliers, positive action to address regulatory concerns, and early adoption of the Code for Construction Products Information.

Environmental protection

We worked to protect the environment from product related harm from batteries, waste electrical equipment and timber, and to ensure equitable sharing of genetic resources. We concluded the prosecution of a yacht manufacturer for breaches of the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013, and made significant progress working to ensure compliance of Vietnam-sourced furniture. In our work to enforce the UK’s Access and Benefit Sharing regulations we developed a machine learning tool to dramatically speed up the complex analysis required, in line with government ambitions to use artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs and improve effectiveness.

Capability and capacity

We enhanced our future talent pathways, through student placements, our new graduate regulatory leaders scheme, and apprenticeships. We engaged with universities to broaden awareness of the work of OPSS. Our regulatory compliance office apprenticeship programme continued to develop specialist expertise and attract new entrants to regulation as their career of choice. We continued our funding to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to deliver training to local authority officers in fields including measuring instruments, cosmetics, risk methodology, construction products regulation, appliance gas safety, and the different regulatory arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland.

Understanding OPSS

Our purpose and strategy

OPSS is the UK’s national product regulator. Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm. By doing this we help consumers and businesses to buy and sell products with confidence, supporting trade, innovation and growth. We are part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We use science, evidence, and intelligence to shape our interventions. We act proportionately, guided by the risk of harm, and seek to minimise complexity and cost for businesses and consumers.

Our 2022-25 strategy has five core objectives against which we report our activity and impact:

1. Deliver protection through responsive policy and active enforcement
2. Apply policies and practices that reflect the needs of citizens
3. Enable responsible businesses to thrive
4. Co-ordinate local and national regulation
5. Inspire confidence as a trusted regulator

The UK has a global reputation for an effective and proportionate regulatory environment that delivers protection for consumers, underpins the supply of trusted products, and protects responsible businesses. As the UK’s product regulator, we aim to ensure that product regulation is effective, clear, and proportionate.

We support the work of ministers to deliver effective policy and regulation, and use intelligence, science and evidence to help guide changes where appropriate. We work across government, with local authorities, public sector organisations, businesses, and business and consumer bodies to fulfil our responsibilities as described below.

Our markets

In 2024, it is estimated that there were 310,600 businesses in scope of OPSS regulation, representing 11% of the total UK business population. The combined turnover of these businesses is estimated at £519bn (with a low estimate of £306bn, and high estimate of £732bn) including consumer electronics, household appliances, clothing and furniture. This figure is estimated using Office for National Statistics (ONS) business size and activity data, and approximations of manufacturing and retail businesses regulated by OPSS.

OPSS also carries out enforcement activity for construction products with an estimated turnover of £103bn (with a low estimate of £58bn, and high estimate of £148bn), hallmarked jewellery (estimated revenues of £9.9bn) and metered heat and energy (estimated sales value of £71.6bn on electricity and £46.1bn on gas). Further details on methodologies for these and other OPSS-sourced data in this report and referenced publications are available in the Delivery Report 2024-25 Statistical Annex published alongside this document.

Product safety

National regulator for product safety: We lead on all aspects from policy to delivery. We have responsibility for the legislative framework, and provide national scientific, technical, and incident management capability working with local authorities. Our enforcement activity is risk-based and includes nationally significant, novel, or contentious issues, as well as proactive investigations driven by intelligence.

Co-ordinating local and national regulation: OPSS maintains the Product Safety Database (PSD) that holds details of all product safety notifications, from our own work or reported by other agencies involved in product safety. We collect and share intelligence to help local authorities and border agencies in enforcement. We provide training for local authority officers, and fund free access to technical standards. We publish unsafe product reports and product recalls on GOV.UK.

Standards and quality infrastructure

OPSS oversees the UK’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in respect of standards and accreditation. NQI comprises OPSS, British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). NQI ensures that when buying products, businesses and consumers know what to expect, and aids the opening of new markets for UK businesses by supporting trade agreements.

Standards and accreditation: We lead government policy on standards and accreditation. We lead the government’s relationship with BSI and UKAS, who provide benchmarks for the manufacture of safe products and assure the quality of testing, calibration and certification services.

Conformity assessment and standards designation: We ensure the ongoing delivery of regulatory responsibilities within our areas of policy responsibility, including the approval of conformity assessment bodies and the designation of standards.

National regulator for legal metrology: We develop weights and measures policy and deliver market surveillance of measuring instruments. We support local weights and measures authorities to ensure weights and measures in use for trade are fair and accurate. On behalf of the Secretary of State, we are the enforcement authority for standards and metering of energy supplies, whose accuracy is important to every household in the UK.

Primary Authority: We enable businesses to access Primary Authority advice from a single local authority partner, simplifying regulation, and avoiding duplication.

Hallmarking: We deliver confidence in the market for precious metals through our sponsorship of the British Hallmarking Council, membership of the International Hallmarking Convention, and through the work of local authority regulators.

Enforcement on behalf of other government departments

We are the enforcement authority for a range of product regulations where other government departments hold policy responsibility. In 2024-25 we delivered 20 product regulation functions for DBT and 5 other government departments, and worked towards adopting further enforcement roles where appropriate.

Construction products: As part of Government’s response to the 2018 Dame Hackitt Review following the Grenfell Tower fire, OPSS took responsibility for the regulation of construction products reporting to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth). OPSS oversee the construction products regulatory regime, and lead market surveillance and enforcement in this sector, coordinating and supporting local authority enforcement. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its final report on 4 September 2024 with the Government response published on 26 February 2025 setting out plans to act on all 58 recommendations.  On the same day, MHCLG published a consultation on Construction Products Reform which sets out an ambitious programme of regulatory and institutional reform of the regime.

Energy standards: We enforce energy labelling, energy efficiency and environmental standards for product design and performance, and electric vehicle charging point regulations on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Department for Transport (DfT), and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

Environmental regulations: We regulate product and supply chain environmental matters on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). We enforce regulations covering electrical equipment recycling, battery takeback regulations, reporting of hazardous substances, and end-of-life vehicles. We also ensure due diligence in the trade of timber to reduce illegal deforestation, and enforce the UK’s Access and Benefit Sharing regulations that meet the UK’s obligations under the Nagoya Protocol.

Consumer connectable product security: We enforce the UK’s legislation setting baseline security requirements for consumer connectable products on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). These requirements came into force on 29 April 2024.

International: We work with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in partner countries to support the development of regulatory environments that enable international trade. We advise the UK government on product regulation matters relating to trade agreements and bilateral discussions on international trade. OPSS works multilaterally and bilaterally with other regulators and international bodies to achieve a common understanding on regulatory challenges and an agenda for coordinated action.

The outcomes we seek

Regulation that is designed and implemented well can be an essential tool to promote growth and investment, but regulation and regulatory outputs should never be a purpose in themselves. Our strategy describes the outcomes that product regulation is designed to achieve. These are that people are protected from product related harm and can buy and use products with confidence; that businesses comply with their legal obligations and responsible businesses can operate with confidence; that the environment is protected from product related harm and product regulation supports the transition to net zero.

People are protected from product related harm

Case Study: Water beads

Water beads are super absorbent polymers which expand when submerged in water, used in toys and the home. They are marketed for various purposes including for use as toys, in crafting, as home decor or in floristry. If swallowed, water beads expand and can cause asphyxiation or block the gastrointestinal passage requiring surgery. Water beads have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas.

In July 2024, OPSS responded to this emerging safety issue in the UK and internationally. We undertook research, intelligence assessment, risk analysis and testing. We found that some water beads marketed as toys are unsafe and do not meet the legal requirements for toys, as they expand beyond the acceptable limit when placed in a liquid. Action has been taken to remove these products from the market. Even compliant water beads can present a risk, so we engaged with stakeholders and other departments to produce and publish a product safety alert to make consumers, carers, educators, local authorities and business aware of the harm these products may pose to young children and vulnerable adults.

Consumers can buy and use products with confidence

Case Study: Children’s fancy dress costumes sold online

Consumers expect products they buy to be safe, especially those for children. As part of our targeted test purchase programme, OPSS tested 128 children’s Halloween fancy dress costumes available from online marketplaces. These products were tested and over 80% were either non-compliant or unsafe when tested against the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. Hazards identified by the testing included fire resistance of the materials used; all 128 products were tested against the standard for flammability of toys, and 28 of these failed. Seventy four of the 128 products were tested in respect of the British Standard relating to cords and drawstrings, and 61 failed due to strangulation or entrapment hazards. Ninety eight of the 128 products were found to be lacking compliant labelling. All of the unsafe products were removed from sale. OPSS issued a news story in time for Halloween supported by partners including fire safety organisations and accident prevention charities.

Businesses comply with their legal obligations

Case study: Heat-soaked thermally toughened glass

Heat-soaked toughened glass is a specialised type of glass utilised widely in safety-critical architectural uses and where dealing with glass breakage would be difficult or expensive. OPSS became aware of confidentially reported concerns alleging that products were being inaccurately labelled as heat soaked. Heat soaking reduces the risk of glass spontaneously shattering due to extreme temperatures caused by inclusions in the glass, resulting in replacement costs and may increase risks to building users.

We engaged with the Glass and Glazing Federation to discuss cross-industry concerns, and launched a programme of 28 unannounced on-site manufacturer inspections. We shared intelligence with other regulators of the built environment and where appropriate issued warning letters to companies concerning the need to have correct documentation for the products they supply. These businesses co-operated with OPSS to address deficiencies in their documentation and provide correct and accurate declarations of performance. Products from another business were found being supplied without any performance certification, inadequate production control systems, and an absence of required technical information. We immediately issued a prohibition notice to prevent further supply. This company responded by updating their technical documentation and agreed to a further inspection by OPSS. We were satisfied that the company had then addressed the identified concerns, enabling OPSS to lift the notice.

Responsible businesses can operate with confidence

Case study: Business taking responsibility

OPSS is seeking to bring about behavioural change in the construction products sector, and instil an ethos of accountability up and down supply chains. Our visible regulatory presence, advice to business and the publicity around enforcement action we have taken has started to drive that desired behaviour.

An example of this change was in 2024 when a leading maker of gypsum products identified that one of its plasterboard products was not meeting the required performance levels to be used at specific building heights. The company immediately took steps to identify customers affected and notify them of the issue and withdrew the affected product from the UK market. It notified OPSS about test results and the steps it had already taken. No formal action was needed. The company’s proactive approach and initiation of dialogue with OPSS demonstrates how industry engagement and proportionate regulation is shifting behaviours. Similar behavioural changes have also been observed downstream in the supply chain, with some housebuilders requiring their suppliers to be signed up to the Code for Construction Products Information (CCPI), and provide evidence of applicable testing certificates.

The environment is protected from product related harm

Case study: Ensuring sustainable timber use

Among the environmental product regulations OPSS enforce are the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013, which require due diligence on supply chains for all timber products including imports. We investigated levels of compliance in businesses importing in-scope furniture products from Vietnam to identify if illegally harvested timber is entering furniture supply chains. Vietnam has implemented a ban on harvesting from natural forest, but there has been an increase of timber imports from neighbouring countries such as Cambodia. OPSS identified that some Vietnamese manufacturers are not taking the necessary steps to ensure that this imported timber is compliant with applicable UK legislation. We requested due diligence information from the largest companies importing furniture products from Vietnam, with 39 businesses prioritised for compliance checks. As a result of these checks, 18 advisory letters were issued on improving due diligence processes and ensuring compliance with UK timber regulations. Four notices of remedial action were issued, requiring businesses to take immediate corrective measures to address compliance failures. The project has contributed to improved compliance among businesses importing timber from Vietnam.

Product regulation supports the transition to net zero

Case study: Ensuring heat pump efficiency

Electrically driven heat pumps are an important component of the government policies to achieve net zero, by replacing millions of domestic gas boilers. To achieve this, it is vital that heat pumps meet efficiency requirements, and that buyers can rely on the performance claimed.

OPSS conducted a testing project for 5 air-to-water mono block heat pump models from 5 different manufacturers. A project to review the technical documentation for similar equipment had been conducted in previous years, and this fed into our testing project for heat pumps. The pumps were taken to an accredited testing facility, which found that 2 models passed all tests. Three heat pump models failed the seasonal space heating efficiency requirements mandated in the relevant regulations. In one case this was due to incorrect settings supplied by the manufacturer. After engaging with OPSS, the issues causing the failures were identified by the manufacturers, and all of these heat pumps were brought into compliance by corrective actions.

Objective 1: Delivering protection through responsive policy and active enforcement

We use our regulatory and enforcement expertise to shape policy and to develop new regulations where change is needed. Our primary purpose as a product regulator is protection – protecting the rights and safety of people, the environment, and the places we live, and doing so in a way that is proportionate and supports economic growth.

Policy development

The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025

Economic growth requires an effective regulatory framework that protects consumers and enables businesses to innovate and trade. The existing product regulatory framework covers the majority of consumer products as well as a significant number of industrial products, from cosmetics and toys, through pyrotechnics to heavy machinery and pressure equipment. The majority of this is derived from EU law developed over the past four decades. As technology, supply chains and regulation continue to develop, the UK needs powers to address current or future threats and hazards, and enable the continuous supply of safe goods.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill was introduced by the Government in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024 and concluded its passage through both Houses on 10 July 2025, securing Royal Assent on 21 July 2025 to become an act. The act will enable the UK’s wide and technical product regulation framework to be kept up to date.

Its new powers will be applied by the Government to address modern safety issues and technological developments, harness opportunities to create economic growth, and ensure a level playing field between the high street and online marketplaces. The act is accompanied by a code of conduct that sets out the statutory and non-statutory controls in place to ensure that any regulations made under the Act are proportionate and evidence based.

Furniture fire safety

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 have contributed to protecting consumers for more than three decades but are out of step with modern approaches to product safety and are a potential barrier to innovation and the circular economy. Successive Governments have worked with stakeholders to build an evidence base supporting and informing change. This includes an increasing body of evidence to support action to reduce the volume of chemical flame retardants which are used to ensure that upholstered furniture passes flammability tests.

In January 2025 Government published a policy paper that addressed six main themes that had emerged in dialogue with business and other stakeholders. The paper committed to continued stakeholder engagement to refine the proposals, while making some immediate reforms. Initial changes included removing certain baby and children’s products from scope of the regulations, where the risk of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is greater than the fire risk posed by those products, and removing requirements relating to the display label.

Cosmetics policy

Between April 2024 and March 2025, OPSS amended the Cosmetic Regulation through three Statutory Instruments (SIs). These were the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2024, the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, and the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025.

These SIs all principally concern chemicals that were previously not regulated in the UK (butylated hydroxytoluene, kojic acid, methyl salicylate). The 2nd SI in 2024 also introduced bans on chemicals that were newly classified by the Health and Safety Executive as carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic.

Our regulatory decision making was informed by expert scientific advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety in Consumer Products (SAG-CS). SAG-CS is a scientific advisory group established in 2021 to provide OPSS with scientific advice and risk assessment in the areas of public health and consumer safety.

Calls for evidence

The input of all stakeholders is an important feature of policy making. We published calls for evidence in September 2024 regarding the possible adoption of new measuring methods for assessing the noise of outdoor equipment, and in October 2024 on the possible introduction of standardised requirements for chargers for mobile phones and certain portable equipment.

Regulation

OPSS is the UK’s product regulator, enforcing product regulations at the national level for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and 5 other departments. Our risk-based enforcement work is driven by protecting people from product related harm, taking proportionate risk-based action to bring businesses into compliance where necessary.

In all cases we apply risk principles, risk best practice, and risk-based frameworks or methodologies such as our Product Risk Assessment Methodology (PRISM) tool. This takes a structured and evidence-based approach to evaluate the likelihood of an event occurring, how a product may be a source of harm, the potential injury or harm that may be caused, and how potential harm can be mitigated.

We have updated the PRISM tool as a resource both for our own application, for local authorities and other market surveillance authorities. We integrated PRISM into our Product Safety Database (PSD) this year, delivered risk capability training, workshops and support to local authorities and international partners. OPSS undertook complex risk assessments for cases described in this report, including water beads, honeycomb fire doors, and baby accessories with protective features, as well as supporting a product threat assessment which helped to prioritise risks linked to 165 product categories.

National risk-based prioritisation and incident response

We updated our Incident Management Plan, introducing a new procedure called the Case Assessment and Monitoring Escalation Protocol (CAM-EP). This process enables OPSS to investigate issues further, collecting additional intelligence where needed, without declaring a national-level incident. This has increased co-ordination across OPSS teams to obtain and analyse data to provide evidence for determining the appropriate next steps. It is quicker and requires less resource than our full incident management process.

CAM-EP was activated 5 times to address issues identified with water beads, honeycomb fire doors, baby-accessories with protective features, data cables and baby pillows. During the year, we triaged allegations, notifications and enquiries for 446 consumer products, and 101 construction products, undertaking appropriate actions based on the specifics of each case. We also triaged 69 serious undesirable effect notifications in relation to cosmetics.

Product focus: E-bikes and e-scooters

The use of e-bikes and e-scooters is an important feature of the move towards more sustainable and active modes of transport and it is vital that consumers can have confidence in their safety. In recent years, as the market has grown, there has been an increasing number of fires involving these products and their associated components including lithium-ion batteries, chargers and conversion kits. We published statistics in June 2025 based on data gathered from fire and rescue services showing that in 2024 there were 211 fires reported involving these products in the UK, and 8 fatalities.

In 2023, OPSS commissioned Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to conduct independent research into product safety risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, chargers and conversion kits when used with e-bikes and e-scooters. The report, published in 2025, represents a significant step forward in OPSS’s understanding of the complex issues and safety challenges presented by these products. It has substantially strengthened the evidence available to support policy development and effective regulation, where the previous evidence base was limited.

The WMG research is part of a wider programme of activity led by OPSS to understand and address product safety risks involving e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries. We are also working closely with other Government departments, including the Home Office, the Department for Transport, MHCLG, and Defra, as well as fire and rescue services, the National Fire Chiefs Council and other relevant businesses and trade associations.

Regulatory activity

OPSS has undertaken a programme of targeted checks on a range of businesses selling e-bikes, e-scooters and products used to convert standard bikes to e-bikes, both those selling online or with a physical presence. We continue to closely monitor action taken by online marketplaces to assess whether they are taking the necessary action, and to hold them to account. This has helped build evidence of the risk posed by certain products, and informed the choice of appropriate regulatory action. Since 2022, enforcement activities have led to 21 product recalls and 29 product safety reports being published for unsafe or non-compliant e-bikes or e-scooters subject to corrective action. OPSS work has been complemented by local authority trading standards inspections of businesses involved in the supply, repair, modification and conversion of e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries, to provide advice on their responsibilities as repairers. OPSS also grant funded local authorities to undertake targeted and risk-based product checks at the border aimed at preventing unsafe or non-compliant products from entering the UK market.

Legislation and guidance

A significant focus has been ensuring that existing guidance and legislation are applied effectively to protect people and places from the dangers associated with these products. In December 2024, using powers under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, the Secretary of State published statutory guidelines setting out the safety mechanisms that lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes must contain to address the risk of thermal runaway. OPSS has also commissioned BSI to develop a new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) to cover the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Consumer safety information

Understanding the real-world use of these products and impacts of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters has been fundamental in informing how OPSS develops consumer messaging to support the safe purchase and use of these products.

In October 2024 the government launched the “Buy Safe, Be Safe” consumer information campaign, to raise awareness of the risks relating to e-bikes, e-scooters and their component parts and encourage safe buying and charging practices. The campaign has been shared with and disseminated through our stakeholder networks including local authorities, delivery companies, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the Institute of Health Promotion and Education, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Citizens Advice and the National Fire Chiefs Council. We also worked with partners to target messages at those most at risk and those less likely to engage with government messaging. Citizens Advice used OPSS grant funding to produce and promote videos targeting delivery riders, young adults and parents in urban areas with advice including on how to avoid e-bikes and e-scooters fires, which were viewed 5 million times.

We also invited organisations to apply to deliver community-based and consumer-focussed projects addressing the risk of fires associated with buying and charging e-bikes, e-scooters, conversion kits, their batteries and chargers. Seven bids from organisations, including Fire and Rescue Services and a community-based charity, were successful. Collectively they held 36 in-person events across the UK, reaching over 1,300 consumers who could be deemed more at risk of product related harm.

Product regulation

Ecodesign and energy labelling

OPSS enforces the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 on behalf of DESNZ. Consumers rely on products conforming to applicable regulations and being accurately marked in relation to energy use. During the year we undertook compliance checks on products including heat pumps, box fans, power supplies, ventilation units, heat pumps, electric motors, wine storage appliances, and electronic displays. Aspects that we checked or tested included energy efficiency performance, electrical safety, UK product marking, technical documentation, and labelling requirements including declarations of conformity.

Examples of findings from our inspection and tests included testing 5 box fans, all of which failed energy efficiency requirements; inspecting 30 power supplies, 16 of which were found to be non-compliant with marking requirements, with 2 failing UK Plug Standards BS 1363; and testing seven ventilation units, of which two failed the relevant requirements. In all instances where products were found to be non-compliant we notified suppliers or manufacturers to ensure that products were brought into compliance, or were withdrawn from the market.

We also sponsored BSI to produce PAS7770:2024, a publicly available specification that offers guidance for manufacturers and designers assessing a product’s environmental impact across its entire life cycle. This is a framework to help organisations who design and manufacture electrical products.

Large domestic appliances

OPSS undertook a programme of targeted checks, looking across eco-design and product safety requirements for fridge freezers and dishwashers. In addition to resolving some non-compliant documentation issues, our fridge freezer testing found some models that failed storage temperature and as a result the producer recalled 58 models from sale within the UK. Our dishwasher tests indicated that 4 models did not comply with the cleaning and drying efficiency requirements. As a result, these models were removed from the market by their manufacturers.

Consumer connectable product security

OPSS enforces Part 1 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, and the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023, on behalf of DSIT. These regulations came into force on 29 April 2024 and cover baseline security requirements for consumer connectable products. We ran a joint media campaign highlighting 100 days until the legislation came into force engaging key stakeholders, supported by press releases and social media content. OPSS worked with businesses to ensure they understood the requirements, to ensure their policies and procedures were compliant. We responded to 91 business enquiries, answering multiple questions, spoke at stakeholder events and participated in webinars reaching over 7,000 businesses.

Projects have been undertaken including the assessment of 82 connected home devices, consumer lifestyle devices and child related products. These items were assessed against the three security requirements and 75% of those in scope were found to have varying levels of non-compliance. Businesses were notified of any non-compliance with reminders of their regulatory obligations; future projects will review their actions. Checks have been completed on 152 manufacturers’ vulnerability disclosure policies. Over 50% of these businesses have been advised of the requirements, OPSS will be continuing these checks and taking action if the requirements are not met.

Construction products

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its final report on 4 September 2024. The government published its response on 26 February 2025 and is acting on all 58 recommendations, to build a more robust and trusted regulatory system to deliver safe, quality homes for everyone. Alongside the response, the Government has published a construction products reform green paper to ensure construction products are safe, that manufacturers and other operators act responsibly and that industry can grow and innovate. It sets out proposals to strengthen the regulation and regulatory oversight of construction products in the UK, improve the product testing and conformity assessment regime, and transform the culture and practices in the construction products industry.

OPSS triaged and assessed 68 construction product concerns, which included assisting 10 businesses and 9 local authorities on issues such as noise barriers, smoke control dampers, door sets, structural steel and more.

Case study: Steel paper-honeycomb core fire-resisting doorsets

A manufacturer of steel fire-resisting doorsets notified OPSS of an unexpected test failure on an internal doorset, which found that the product did not meet its declared/claimed fire resistance classification. Approximately 124 of these doorsets had been installed in public buildings over the past decade. OPSS invoked its CAM-EP Protocol, and undertook intelligence development, risk and root cause analysis, working with the manufacturer to review technical documentation and determine the cause of test failure. This was identified as a paper-honeycomb core within the doorset. The manufacturer withdrew the doorset from the market. Following advice from OPSS, building owners were notified of the test failure along with operational partners including Transport for London, Network Rail, the Office for Rail and Road, and London Fire Brigade. This ensured end users and project managers were informed of the identified safety risk. OPSS worked with the manufacturer and building owners to see that fire risk assessments for the buildings were reviewed and that any necessary remedial measures were taken. Additionally, OPSS undertook assurance activities in relation to the wider sector, such that relevant certification schemes did not include products with similar concerns.

Online marketplaces

While the online marketplace sector continues to grow and diversify providing increased choice for consumers, this has created challenges around assuring the safety of a greater range of products. Our most recent consumer research shows that consumer confidence in the safety of products sold online has increased on previous studies. For established platforms consumer safety confidence was high, although for some emerging or value-priced platforms consumer confidence was very low.

Our Online Marketplaces Programme (OMP) has developed a holistic approach, identifying the different models of marketplace, their impact on shopping behaviours, and enabling us to use tailored approaches to engage, educate and enforce across the sector. We have taken a three-pronged approach to improving regulation of online selling. This has included seeking behaviour change from marketplace operators, convening regulatory partners both domestically and internationally, and targeted testing and enforcement.

Behaviour change

We have worked with major online marketplaces (OMs) to change their behaviour, so that they prevent the sale of unsafe and non-compliant products on their platforms and restrict the sale of high-risk products. Examples include a major OM permitting only trusted sellers to sell e-bikes, e-scooters, and accessories, OMs agreeing not to market water beads (due to choking risks) to children, and OMs sharing information on new potentially risky products with OPSS.

To enable us to take a consistent and risk-based approach we have segmented OMs into tiers that ensure we can regulate the sector, and target marketplaces or platforms based on the regulatory need and risk. We hold quarterly meetings with the largest OMs and have regular sector-wide briefings that allow us to share our concerns, disseminate guidance, remind operators of their responsibilities and share best practice in product safety assurance.

We also seek information on how OMs assure their platforms, including how they communicate with sellers and consumers, their approach to product recalls, and the underlying technology and manual processes they implement. In addition to our work with OMs, we recognise the importance of helping business sellers understand their responsibilities. OPSS has funded a Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) project that provides targeted advice to UK based third party sellers, including free workshops and guidance on placing safe goods for sale online.

Convening regulatory partners

Given that many of the OMs operating in the UK are based abroad, and/or utilise complex international supply chains, the opportunities and challenges that the sector presents cross over both geographical boundaries and regulatory remits. Domestically, the OMP convenes other UK government departments and regulators to increase coherence and consistency in how UK government deals with OMs, while sharing intelligence and best practice on developing new regulatory approaches. Internationally, OMP has collaborated with numerous other regions and supranational organisations, to target non-compliant products further up the supply chain and share intelligence on developing models within the sector that might impact UK consumers now or in the future.

Targeted testing and enforcement

We undertook market surveillance to identify trends, and continued our rolling programme of targeted test purchasing. This included high risk products including toys, water beads, baby sleeping products, children’s fancy dress, small diving cylinders, and life jackets. Our work on life jackets and buoyancy aids resulted in 56 non-compliant products being either recalled or removed from the market.

Case study: Baby sleeping products

We purchased a range of baby sleeping products, primarily sleeping bags. We found that some of these products had no arm holes, which can allow a baby to slip down inside a sleeping bag and suffocate. Others had hoods that could cover the baby’s face, again creating a suffocation risk. These products did not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, and we worked with online marketplaces to remove the listings. To tie in with The Lullaby Trust’s ‘Safer Sleep Week’, OPSS linked up with the Trust and Netmums to reach those purchasing products for children under 12 months old and professionals who work with families. We created resources that cover a range of baby sleeping products and warn that products sold online may be unsafe, along with a checklist for parents and carers that includes key messages on shopping for baby sleeping bags, checking the safety labels and considering where best to purchase. Our social media posts had a reach of 33,838, The Lullaby Trust had a reach of 441,267 for their posts and Netmums 31,982.

In addition to the UK’s own market surveillance, we acted on unsafe online products identified through the EU’s Safety Gate system. This generated 276 referrals, many containing multiple products, leading to listing take-down requests that removed unsafe products from the UK market.

Legal metrology

OPSS has responsibility for regulating legal metrology in relation to weighing and measuring devices being placed on the market. This year we began a market review of conformity assessment procedures in the liquid fuel road tanker systems sector. We are working with eight manufacturers to review their technical documentation, products and declarations of conformity for compliance, a project that will continue into 2025-26. We continued to execute our responsibilities under Section 11A of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 to oversee 37 business who are approved by the Secretary of State to verify instruments that include liquid fuel measuring systems, automatic and non-automatic weighing instruments, spirit measuring instruments, pharmaceutical capacity measures, and road vehicle weighbridges.

Weighing platform instruments are used for the weighing of heavier goods in trade that weigh between 50 kg to 2 tonnes. These instruments must complete conformity assessment before being placed onto the market. OPSS purchased 10 instruments for visual examination for compliance. 10 were inspected with 1 falling out of scope, 5 passing checks and another 4 failing the examination due to missing markings or inadequate data plates. Businesses with non-compliances were contacted and required to take corrective action to remedy the issues discovered.

Case study: Airport check-in scales

OPSS received a referral from Trading Standards that alleged a company had not correctly completed conformity assessment for a model of baggage weigher used at UK airports. Our enquiries working with Trading Standards established that there was no issue with the accuracy of the weighing platform. The manufacturer had not completed the Module D conformity module, which meant the point-of-sale software was not test certified. OPSS provided guidance to the company who ceased supply of the instrument and acted to complete the conformity process through an approved body. This proportionate action in line with our enforcement policy was productive in achieving compliance.

Energy and alternative fuels

OPSS is supporting the transition to net zero by enforcing on behalf of other government departments the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017 (AFIR), Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 (PCPR), the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 (EVSCPR), and the Alternative Fuel Labelling and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (AFLR).

Electric vehicle charging points

The AFIR apply to public charge points. We inspected 383 public charge points from 56 operators, covering a range of city centre, urban and rural locations. Two non-conformities were identified, and these are subject to further investigation.

The PCPR cover the customer experience at public charge points including contactless payment, reliability, and pricing transparency. We attended a variety of trade exhibitions, trade bodies and conferences to raise awareness of these regulations. The team inspected 58 operators, 357 charge points and 77 webpages on various non-compliance issues, advising businesses of their regulatory obligations.

The EVSCPR apply to the sale of domestic and workplace charge points. We worked with online retailers to prevent the sale of non-compliant private charge points. During 2024-25, 101 online listings, representing 2,951 individual charge points were removed. Enforcement undertakings were accepted from 4 sellers of private EV charge points who proactively notified OPSS of their non-compliance with the regulations and set out plans to bring their products into compliance. Four enforcement undertakings were also extended and 98 completion certificates were issued for enforcement undertakings accepted since June 2022. OPSS has worked closely with DESNZ to consider industry feedback on the implementation of the EVSCP Regulations; a process evaluation of the regulations, commissioned by DESNZ was published on 24 December 2024.

Alternative fuel labelling

The AFLR require motor vehicles and refuelling points to be correctly labelled. Alternative fuel provides a partial substitute to fossil oil and reduces the environmental impact of transport. Correct labelling facilitates ease of access to alternative fuels and provides consumers with a clearer understanding of their availability. We inspected 3,384 fuel labels at 76 infrastructure operators covering a range of city centre, urban and rural locations. A total of 502 non-conformities were identified, all have since been resolved.

Heat networks

OPSS is supporting the transition to net zero by enforcing the legislation covering heat networks which supply heating, hot water and/or cooling from a central source to final customers. We published guidance to heat network operators on enforcement actions and associated rights in July 2024, and updated this in November.

The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 require heat suppliers to submit a notification including relevant information on the size and nature of the network at least every four years. During 2024-25 we processed 252 notifications and responded to over 505 cases.

Gas and electricity meters

OPSS protects consumers from economic detriment by ensuring the accuracy of gas and electricity meters used for billing purposes.

We organise an annual In-Service Testing (IST) scheme, a statistically based scheme designed to verify the in-service accuracy of meter populations. Meters are sampled at regular intervals throughout their life and OPSS collates the results nationally and assesses performance. IST testing was undertaken on 23 different meter types with 2,440 meters being removed from service and tested at an approved IST test station. These samples represent an installed population of 4.96 million meters, providing confidence to consumers that they will be billed accurately for the quantities of gas and electricity supplied.

The majority of electricity meters approved before October 2006 are also required to be certified, and OPSS undertakes an annual survey of energy suppliers in relation to the compliance of these legacy meters. As of 31 December 2024, suppliers reported 1.654 million uncertified meters, with consumer reluctance to facilitate the meter exchange being cited as the main reason for this. Where meters are uncertified, this does not equate to the meters being faulty and OPSS are currently engaging with energy suppliers with a view to removing these meters and replacing with new meters.

Where consumers are concerned about meter accuracy, OPSS provides the statutory disputed meter testing service. Meters are tested by meter examiners, appointed by OPSS, and this provides an independent means of resolving disputes between energy suppliers and their customers. A total of 782 meters were tested, and the majority of these tests found that the meters were operating within the prescribed accuracy limits. The results of the dispute tests are notified to the customer, the energy supplier and the meter owner. Where a meter is found to be outside the legal limits, the energy supplier is obliged to rebill the consumer accordingly.

OPSS approves the design of industrial electricity meters for use in Great Britain, and four new meter types were approved in 2024-25.

Reducing environmental impacts

On behalf of Defra, OPSS is responsible for the enforcement of a range of product related regulations. These aim to reduce pollution and support recycling of electronic and electrical equipment, batteries and end-of-life vehicles, to ensure that timber and timber products are sustainably and legally harvested, and that the UK meets its Nagoya Protocol obligations to share genetic research benefits.

Battery supply regulations

OPSS enforces the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 on behalf of Defra. The legislation places limits on certain highly toxic materials that can be harmful if disposed of incorrectly, and imposes labelling requirements. During the year we resolved 754 cases.

We continued to investigate reported instances of incorrect selling or use of a leading brand of lithium-ion 18650 cells. During 2024-25, 27 cases were under investigation, 27 warning letters were issued, 24 cases were resolved, and 3 cases remain live investigations in 2025-26. This resulted in non-compliant batteries being removed from the market.

We undertook targeted test purchases of automotive starter batteries from the two largest suppliers in 2024. The batteries failed performance tests and Warning Letters were issued to both businesses, resulting in improvements to their batch and quality checks. This addressed approximately 325 tonnes (11,000 units) of automotive batteries, which were also included on the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD). NPWD is a data sharing tool used by government, regulators and in-scope businesses, including smaller battery producers. It helps evidence compliance and identify non-compliant businesses.

A more serious case concluded with a prosecution and subsequent sentencing confirmed in June 2024. This was a multi-agency case with Luton Borough Council Trading Standards, ‘Operation Dahlia’. The case was in respect of battery labelling issues linked to performance claims, lack of safety documentation, warranty, delivery and misleading information. The defendant pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 having engaged in commercial practices that included selling misdescribed and unsafe batteries which contravened the requirements of professional diligence. Luton Crown Court imposed a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, a director disqualification order for 2 years, a deprivation order for the batteries seized during the investigation and allowed a costs order of £40,000.

Waste batteries

OPSS reviewed the NPWD submissions for the 2023 compliance period to identify industrial or automotive battery producers who failed to submit required data. This includes the number of batteries they placed on the market and waste batteries taken back for treatment. OPSS reviewed 531 data submissions. 90 warning letters were issued to overdue producers, and 66 producers have now been brought into compliance. This improvement in compliance shows higher levels of recycling, and less harmful waste ending up in landfill sites.

We identified 56 producers battery data submissions with discrepancies. 49 were provided with guidance and a further 7 identified as a concern due to the size of the business and level of data provided, requiring further investigation. At end of year audit visits have been undertaken on 4 businesses, which have been brought into compliance, and work continues to drive full compliance.

Following on from previous year’s work on automotive traction batteries, we ran a project examining 44 manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries for NPWD compliance. OPSS sent out 14 warning letters linked to this work area. This work resulted in approximately 170,000 tonnes of traction batteries being identified and recorded, and will ensure that manufacturers have waste take back and recycling schemes in operation for future years as the EV market grows.

Restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)

OPSS enforces the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (RoHS) on behalf of Defra. The regulations govern the levels of hazardous substances contained within electrical and electronic equipment.

We concluded 59 investigations triggered by alerts from the EU Safety Gate system. Each case encompassed online product takedowns, reviews of technical documents and compliance systems and identification of additional suppliers selling identical products. The team undertook 108 test purchases, involving vapes, Christmas tree, lights, speakers, safes, toys, chargers, vacuum cleaner and electric safes. Our vape test purchase operation bought 52 vapes online or from retail premises. Two vapes failed due to hazardous content and were removed from sale.

A market surveillance test purchase was undertaken on a major high street and digital retailer. Six products (corded telephone, shredder, hairdryer, PC soundbar, fitness tracker and an audio converter) were tested and interventions completed, resulting in approximately 3,760 non-compliant products being withdrawn from sale.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

OPSS enforces the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (WEEE) on behalf of Defra. Specifically, we enforce the labelling obligations placed on producers and takeback obligations placed on distributors and retailers. This can be achieved by businesses running their own takeback scheme, or where permitted by joining the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) run by Valpak Retail WEEE Services.

Phase 6 of the DTS project has now been completed with 466 businesses assessed, with the final outcomes resulting in 161 businesses joining DTS, 178 businesses undertaking their own takeback and the remaining not selling electrical or electronic equipment. This involves a total of 34,142 physical stores and 181 online only businesses.

Our targeted intervention with supermarkets, high street retailers and garage forecourts, for the takeback of vapes under WEEE regulations has resulted in a further 9,684 vape bins being rolled out across the UK, bringing the total to 14,262. This significant increase allows consumers to dispose of vapes responsibly and conveniently, reducing both environmental impacts and fire risks in municipal waste.

Timber supply chain environmental compliance

On behalf of Defra, OPSS enforces the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013 across the UK. We ran two timber expert panels during the year to raise awareness of the UK timber regulations (UKTR) and support business compliance. Topics included lessons for industry from the prosecution reported in last year’s OPSS Delivery Report, introduction of EU Deforestation Regulations in Northern Ireland, the OPSS operational plan, and a presentation by the Zoological Society of London. These events were attended by stakeholders, companies and other interested parties, and received positive feedback. OPSS continued engagement activity with stakeholders, including participation at several trade shows for timber importers, furniture makers, and boat building sectors. The outcomes of our Vietnamese timber project are described earlier in this document.

At the beginning of the year we issued seizure notices in relation to non-compliant timber products that a major furniture retailer had self-reported. This was the first time OPSS had used seizure notices under UKTR, and we worked with the company to agree an outcome whereby seized items were donated to a charity in Ukraine assisting people affected by Russia’s invasion.

OPSS is also responsible for verifying Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Indonesia. We verified 4,832 FLEGT licences during the year, with 96% (4,649) processed within the service standards for turnround time.

Access and benefit sharing (ABS)

OPSS enforces the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing on behalf of Defra. These regulations implement the UK’s commitment to equitable sharing of the benefits of genetic resources in line with the Nagoya Protocol. The regulations apply to all organisations that carry out research on genetic resources that fall in-scope of the Nagoya Protocol, and can include universities, businesses, and research institutions.

We supported and intervened with 18 organisations to make sure that they were compliant with the UK ABS Regulations. We investigated 6 new organisations identified from data shared by an executive non-departmental body, and continued inspections with 4 organisations from the previous financial year. Of these 10, we identified 4 were carrying out at least 5 in-scope projects between them. Investigations were undertaken into 6 organisations newly identified from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) data by the application of machine learning (case study below), and we started a follow up investigation into a previously non-compliant entity. OPSS also received the first report of concern about ABS compliance of a UK business with the Nagoya Protocol, and started an investigation.

Case study: Use of AI to protect genetic resources

The criteria for assessing whether research projects fall under the Nagoya Protocol are complex, making manual identification extremely time consuming. In addition to the complex criteria, there are a very large number of UKRI funded research projects, of which only a small number are actually in-scope. To improve the process, OPSS data scientists were tasked with creating a tool to automate it, and output a list of lead UK organisations classified as either potentially in or out of scope of the protocol. After applying different models and reviewing their performance, the team identified that a Naive Bayes model performed best. This model was applied to all remaining unlabelled UK Research & Innovation funded projects, and assessed 62,973 projects, which would not have been possible to do manually with the resource available. Projects identified by the model as potentially in scope were then reviewed manually. The data model and dashboard developed has opened new opportunities to deliver other projects at pace.

This model is the first time a machine learning tool has been operationally deployed by OPSS. We believe it is also the first utilisation of machine learning techniques in the world to aid the ABS regulation enforcement.

Objective 2: Applying policies and practices that reflect the needs of citizens

OPSS puts protection first and works to place consumers at the centre of product regulation, listening to them, and ensuring their different needs are accounted for, particularly those that are most vulnerable. From policy through to enforcement, and through engagement and communications, we aim to make regulation work for all consumers.

Consumer research

Trust in the UK product safety system

OPSS conducts ongoing research on consumer attitudes to product safety through a series of surveys, called waves. Recent research (wave 8) highlights the majority (53%) of the public perceive that current regulations on product safety are ‘completely’ or ‘a great deal’ safe. As depicted in Figure 1, this trust and faith in current regulations have increased compared to the previous two waves of research, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of people saying they feel that the regulations ‘somewhat’ ensure safety (38%). The proportion who feel that the current system does not ensure safety at all remains consistent at 3%, indicating that the small proportion of the public with a lack of confidence in regulation have not been assuaged.

Consistent with previous research, we find that as the age of the public increases, their trust that the UK regulatory system ensures complete product safety decreases. Younger people are more likely to feel that the UK system for regulating product safety can ensure product safety ‘completely’ (12% of those aged 18 to 29, 8% of those aged 30 to 49, 5% of those aged 50 to 64). Those aged 65 and over are the least likely to feel that the UK’s product safety regulation ensures that products are ‘completely’ safe (3%).

Q: To what extent do you feel that the UK’s system for regulating the safety of products ensures that products you purchase are safe?

Base: All respondents. W1 (10,230); W2 (10,296); W3 (10,187); W4 (10,156); W5 (10,182); W6 (10,216); W7 (10,023); W8 (10,060)

Trust in organisations associated with product safety

The majority (75%) of respondents perceive consumer protection bodies as trustworthy; this is higher than other organisations listed in Figure 2. This high degree of trust in consumer protection bodies is maintained from the previous three waves (75% at wave seven, 74% at waves five and six) after dropping down from its highest point in wave one (79%). Retail outlets also have a high level of trust, with second-hand shops most likely to be seen as trustworthy (66%). Second-hand shops are followed closely by physical and online retail outlets; with almost three in five of the UK public feeling that physical store retail outlets or online retail outlets are trustworthy (61% for physical outlets, 57% for online outlets). Respondents indicated a lower level of trust in online marketplaces than other retailers, with only 45% of UK adults saying they are trustworthy.

Trust is an important measure we research within consumers; for example both understanding their trust in local government and their trust of online retailers and marketplaces. The age group who are the most frequent users of online marketplaces (18-29 year olds) are also the age group most likely to trust online marketplaces (52% trust them). A key positive improvement in public perceptions is trust in local government, which has risen significantly compared with the previous two waves; from 27% in wave six to 33% in wave seven and now 35% in wave eight. Similarly, trust in UK government departments has risen compared with the previous four waves (25% W4, 27% W5, 21% W6, 29% W7) to 32% for wave eight.

Q: Of the following types of organisations, in general how trustworthy or not do you think each are in how they operate towards you?

Base: All respondents (W8=10,060)

First hand experience of a product functioning safely is the primary driver of trust in a product, followed by feedback received from others (ie. online reviews and recommendations from friends and family). Previous experience of buying the product remains the most commonly cited factor that builds trust in a product being safe (42%), consistent with wave seven (41%) (figure 2). Other factors such as online reviews (33%) and recommendations from friends and family (27%) also remain consistently important factors when it comes to trusting that a product is safe.

Case study: Applying consumer behaviour insights

Product registration enables manufacturers to contact consumers in the event of a product recall or safety event. OPSS conducted research in previous years to apply behavioural science principles to increase consumer registration rates of large domestic appliances. The research was undertaken in collaboration with two major manufacturers and published in March 2025. Through small changes to wording and branding of leaflets, higher rates of product registration were achieved. Through publication OPSS has made the learning available to all manufacturers and involves almost no cost to business but offers the potential to improve the effectiveness of the product recall and safety system.

Engaging with consumer organisations

Consumer Reference Panel

OPSS’ Consumer Reference Panel meets quarterly, bringing together a range of consumer bodies to gain insight into the consumer perspective on the government’s product safety policy and actions and to provide challenge to the work that we do. Membership includes the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), BSI Consumer Forum, Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), Citizens Advice, Consumer Council Northern Ireland, Advice Direct Scotland, and CTSI.

The panel discussed a wide range of OPSS policy and regulatory matters impacting on consumers, including the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, the challenge of reaching hard to hear communities, and various safety issues with products such as e-bikes, cosmetics and baby products. Members amplify OPSS safety messages through their networks, and flag emerging product safety issues that have been raised with them.

Working with our partners, delivery through engagement

We continued to work with and fund partner organisations to support and expand the reach of consumer messages via tailored approaches. This enabled us to better reach consumers who may be more vulnerable to risks, including those with protected characteristics or disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living.

We provided grant funding to CAPT, Citizens Advice, CTSI and RoSPA for longer term initiatives and consumer support. We awarded funding through ‘Community Contracts’ to support community-focussed initiatives for product safety awareness raising and educational activities. We awarded 17 community contracts to a diverse range of groups including: local Citizen Advice offices, local authority and fire and rescue partnerships, charities for deaf people and a not-for-profit social enterprise. Campaigns included delivering e-bike charging safety advice at a range of schools and colleges.

Grant funding supported projects and campaigns on button batteries, cosmetics and baby and children’s products. We relaunched our firework campaign in October 2024 by refreshing existing assets. The campaign focused on safe purchase, storage, use and disposal plus considerate use.

Delivering our messages

An important part of our work is ensuring that information on unsafe or non-compliant products is shared by bodies with an interest in the UK’s product safety system, and made available to business and to consumers. We do this through direct engagement with partner organisations, publishing information and guidance on our GOV.UK web site, media campaigns and press releases, social media engagement, and events. Topics included water beads, themed recalls including #SummerSafety, advice on using fireworks safely, Black Friday electrical safety, safe buying online and Christmas shopping safety tips. OPSS exhibited at stakeholder events including the Electrical Safety First conference, BSI Spring Conference, and the Local Government Association Conference.

In the last 12 months, we published 18 news updates, 471 product safety reports alerting stakeholders to product safety concerns and 277 product recall notices.

Guidance

We published guides on the EU Regulation on General Product Safety 2023/988 and the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024, ensuring that guidance for businesses placing products on the market in Northern Ireland continues to be comprehensive, despite the regulatory divergence from the rest of the UK. The existing product safety and metrology guides were also revised in the light of the indefinite extension of CE marking. We published revised guidance on waste electrical and electronic equipment and new statutory guidelines on e-bike safety. Overall, we updated our product and regulation guidance 66 times in the last year.

Product Safety Database

OPSS operates the UK’s Product Safety Database (PSD), which is the system through which OPSS and other market surveillance authorities share information on product safety concerns.

During the year we received and processed 1,418 product safety notifications via PSD, covering 1,792 products. A single notification may relate to multiple products, and the same product may appear in more than one notification. We published a report covering high level findings from PSD in 2024-25 on 10 July 2025. Seven hundred and forty nine notifications were subsequently published on the UK’s Product Recalls and Alerts website, providing information on unsafe products subject to a recall or other corrective action.

We use product safety alerts to highlight product categories or sectors in the UK with risks of serious injury or fatality and where immediate steps are requested by OPSS from businesses, authorities and possibly consumers. This year we published one product safety alert drawing attention to the serious safety risks presented by water beads to children. Figure 3 shows the main categories of product notified on PSD during the year, with the most frequently notified being electrical appliances, followed by toys and cosmetics.

Category	Number	Percentage (%)
Electrical appliances and equipment	470	26
Toys	344	19
Cosmetics	213	12
Childcare articles and children’s equipment	159	9
Machinery	106	6
Clothing, textiles and fashion items	87	5
Personal protective equipment (PPE)	67	4
Jewellery	60	3
Hand tools	48	3
Decorative articles	34	2
All other categories	204	11
Total	1792	100

Most frequent types of product harm notified

It is important for OPSS to understand the main potential harms to consumers from different products, which can be identified from PSD figures for 2024-25. Figure 4 below outlines the number of notified harm types on the PSD. The list of harms aligns with the EU’s Safety Gate system as part of post-EU Exit continuity. The most frequently notified harm was fire, followed by injuries and electric shocks.

Category	Number	Percentage (%)
Fire	212	23
Injuries	174	19
Electric shock	135	15
Chemical	109	12
Choking	108	12
Asphyxiation	56	6
Health risk	27	3
Burns	22	2
Suffocation	17	2
Cuts	12	1
Entrapment	12	1
All other harm types	22	2
Total	906	100

Most frequent corrective actions notified

Figure 5 sets out the types of corrective action listed on the PSD along with the frequency of each type of corrective action notified in 2024 to 2025.

Each notification can include more than one product, and each product can be linked to more than one corrective action. However, not all products have corrective actions added. The most frequently notified harm was fire, followed by injuries and electric shocks.

The most common corrective action taken was import rejected at border, followed by destruction of the product and the removal of the listing by the online marketplace.

Category	Number	Percentage (%)
Import rejected at border	789	35
Destruction of the product	431	19
Removal of the listing by the online marketplace	283	13
Recall of the product from end users	274	12
Withdrawal of the product from the market	155	7
Seizure of goods	84	4
Product back into compliance	76	3
Product no longer available for sale	46	2
Modification programme	45	2
Warning consumers of the risks	31	1
All other corrective actions	41	2
Total	2255	100

Objective 3: Enabling responsible business to thrive

OPSS seeks to be effective as a regulator and support the government’s growth mission whilst protecting consumers and the environment. We use a combination of proactive guidance and advice and reactive enforcement of our powers to intervene in markets and supply chains to address compliance concerns as they arise. We focus our work on the areas posing the greatest risk and deal with issues in a proportionate manner. We apply the principles of the Growth Duty in how we regulate, and in how we design regulation. These principles enable those that we regulate to hold us to account, provide feedback and challenge, raise concerns, and inform our approach.

Proportionate enforcement

We resolved 15,266 cases during the year. Approximately half of all cases were resolved by our responses to enquiries. Other case resolutions included 3,924 that were signposted to guidance, 2,967 that were issued with advice, 997 where investigations and checks found no non-compliance, and 295 where we answered technical questions regarding regulations. Where action was required, 416 products were removed from online sales, 385 cases were resolved by completion of business improvement plans, 172 voluntary undertakings were completed, and 99 enforcement undertaking certificates were issued. We referred 191 cases to local authorities, 42 to other national regulators, 17 to international regulators, and 3 prosecutions were undertaken.

Business engagement

Business reference panel

OPSS hosts the quarterly Business Reference Panel, with input from OPSS as well as other regulators and government officials. The remit of the panel is to discuss issues across the regulatory landscape and ensure the voice of business is heard as part of ongoing policy and regulatory developments across government. The panel consists of 293 trade organisations and businesses across multiple sectors including product manufacturing, technology, hospitality, law firms, and retail. Topics covered during our quarterly meetings included the Product Safety and Metrology Bill, updates on our e-bikes and e-scooters work, and our approach to AI, as well as presentations on wider business-related issues by speakers from DBT, Home Office, Defra, Competition and Markets Authority, and CTSI.

In addition to the quarterly panels, we operate ad-hoc ‘mini-Business Reference Panels’. These are used to take a more in-depth discussion around specific topics.

Engaging the construction sector

We continued to adopt a proactive approach to supporting businesses to comply while delivering effective regulatory outcomes. OPSS sponsored the development of an industry code of practice to create a general safety requirement for construction products placed on the market, clarifying the responsibilities of supply chain actors and supporting the provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022.

OPSS attended and spoke at 24 sector level meetings and conferences to explain our role across the construction industry and to develop our sector insights through events such as UK Construction Week and London Build. In addition, we contributed to strategic industry groups and forums, such as the Industry Safety Steering Group and the Industry Competency Committee. We encouraged industry led initiatives to implement the culture change required in this sector. This included supporting the development of industry guidance on declarations of performance, a key document relied upon by architects and specifiers to ensure products used are fit for their intended purpose.

Case study: Regulation supporting new products

OPSS took enforcement action in 2023-24 in relation to plywood products for which enhanced fire performance was mis-declared. As a result of the OPSS investigation, the European manufacturer recalled the product and enhanced factory production control processes. The manufacturer also collaborated with a UK importer/distributor to develop a new product that addressed industry needs for better fire-performance plywood, and placed it on the market. The manufacturer provided feedback that the improved production processes have resulted in increased market confidence, as evidenced by new product enquiries, while the importer/distributor expressed greater confidence in the performance of products placed on the UK market.

Transparency on enforcement

During 2023 we reviewed our Enforcement Policy. The policy articulates our approach to non-compliance by those OPSS regulate. It sets out the framework for our decision making on enforcement and provides transparency to those that we regulate about how and why decisions are made. The review took account of lessons learned since our inception in 2018, and the roles and responsibilities that OPSS has since taken on.

We published a draft in November 2023 to gain views from our stakeholders, and we received helpful feedback from business and other organisations. The updated Enforcement Policy was published in April 2024 and reflects our Product Regulation Strategy. It provides greater clarity on our approach to financial penalties and reflects a move to a more timely approach to publishing details of our enforcement actions.

Standards and accreditation

National Quality Infrastructure (NQI)

Throughout 2024-25, OPSS worked with NQI institutions to consider how to maximise the collective value of the whole NQI system focusing on digitalisation and greater cross-system coordination. This work will help ensure the UK’s well-established NQI system continues to drive consumer protection and confidence, while reducing costs and improving compliance for business. More widely it supports innovation, trade and the transition to net zero.

Standards

The British Standards Institution is responsible for the development of, quality and technical adequacy of UK standards. The Secretary of State has powers to designate standards for regulatory conformity purposes and, since 2021, coordination of product safety standards has been led by OPSS.

Nearly 38 percent of the 528 standards we designated since 2021 were focused on machinery regulations. Recent designated standards include a tumble dryer standard and an Intense Pulse Light devices standard. We supported BSI’s membership of international standards bodies, the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Accreditation

Accreditation is intended to ensure that those who carry out conformity assessment, testing, certification, and inspection are competent to do so. OPSS leads the government relationship with the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) who are the UK’s sole national accreditation body.

UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies (UKMCAB)

The UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies (UKMCAB) service was developed in 2021 to serve as the UK’s database of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). It is the definitive source and register of UK government appointed CABs who can certify goods for both the GB and NI markets.

Following feedback from users, OPSS led a cross-government project to improve the service for all stakeholders, streamlining the process of data input and including a data repository function. The project was completed in 2024 and the UKMCAB database has undergone substantial improvements which facilitate the appointment process for CABs and search facility for all users, making it easier for CABs to use it.

Some regulations require manufacturers to undergo a third-party conformity assessment by an approved accreditation body to provide external scrutiny to assure the ongoing compliance of that product. OPSS reviewed recommendations regarding the suitability of new or existing bodies, with 14 new appointments made in 2024-25, and maintaining a further 127 appointments.

Standards and accreditation in trade

International standards support trade policy while helping to maintain the UK’s flexible and pro-competition regulatory model. Standards and accreditation play a key role in trade negotiations. We contributed to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) negotiations in 2024-25, including with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Turkey, Switzerland and Israel and with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which the UK acceded to on 15 December 2024.

Hallmarking

British Hallmarking Council (BHC)

OPSS’s sponsorship of the BHC, an independent non-departmental public body of DBT, supports it to deliver its primary objectives under the Hallmarking Act and secondary duties under the statutory Growth Duty. This is reflected in the annual objectives set by ministers to the BHC Chair. In 2024, the BHC made good progress towards full compliance with the government’s “Arms Length Bodies Sponsorship Code of Best Practice”, and a new framework document was agreed setting out the relationship between BHC and the department. The government announced on 17 March 2025 that it will commence a review into the BHC which will look at its role, remit and governance.

OPSS is currently working with the BHC to reduce the number of non-compliant precious metal jewellery items being sold via the internet and online platforms.

International trade

The Hallmarking Convention is an international treaty between 22 states on the cross-border trade in precious metal articles. The objective of the Convention is to facilitate international trade in precious metal articles while at the same time maintaining fair trade and consumer protection.

All four UK assay offices are notified to the Convention meaning they can apply the international hallmark to products to gain access to the markets of all 22 signatory countries. At the same time, products carrying the international hallmark of other signatory assay offices can be placed on the UK market providing more choice for consumers while maintaining regulatory protections.

In 2024 the UK led the publication of a “Model Law” which can be used by prospective new members to the Convention as a basis for their new hallmarking laws.

International engagement

OPSS engages in a wide range of bilateral partnerships, to support closer cross border collaboration and co-ordination. Over the last year we have participated in a total of 76 international engagements across over 23 countries, including 41 bilateral and 28 multilateral engagements.

OPSS supports UK representation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and in UN multilateral forums to agree consistent approaches to regulation and product safety. This helps develop a predictable business environment which supports consumers to trust products they are buying, whether from the UK or internationally, and helps businesses to trade. OPSS was the co-lead with Colombia on the OECD’s annual product safety campaign, which this year covered lithium-ion batteries. Twenty-five countries around the world, plus the European Union (EU) and other stakeholders, took part in the campaign.

Regulatory collaboration

OPSS continued to work closely with other national and international regulators to deliver consistent messages to those we regulate and to explore new and innovative approaches to regulating. We focused our efforts on those jurisdictions where products, labelling and instructions use a common language, and products readily move between these jurisdictions. We also established working relations with regulators who have very different markets and legislative approaches, hosting meetings and research visits. This work has given us new insight into global trends in risk management, recall mechanisms, and the approaches to securing compliance in the online marketplace sector.

We participated and presented at the International Product Safety Week event in Brussels during October 2024, and at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety conferences. These dialogues examined the interconnectivity between legislation that impacts on businesses that produce consumer products, Artificial Intelligence, online safety, battery technology and other innovations and explored the need for global alignment of regulatory activity and the challenges of supporting consumers through awareness, labelling and education.

International delivery

In addition to OPSS multilateral engagement with international peers, we continued to work closely with colleagues across government to support FCDO in its south east Asian development objectives. We applied our expertise and relationships to support this programme, as well as collaborating with global and international partners.

ASEAN regulatory reform

Building on previous successes with the Regulatory Reform Programme in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), OPSS continued to lead on a four year multilateral technical assistance programme, the Economic Integration Programme funded by FCDO. In this programme OPSS experts provide insights and advice on consumer product safety and good regulatory practice. OPSS also coordinated delivery partners including BSI, Intellectual Property Office, and the Competition and Markets Authority to deliver bespoke support regionally and bilaterally across ASEAN in their areas of expertise.

As a trusted delivery partner, OPSS received ASEAN secretariat accreditation for the programme this year and transitioned from programme design to delivery. We recruited 6 attaches based in ASEAN Member States, who lead on delivery alongside the UK team. Eight missions were completed this year and OPSS has made significant progress with its phase one countries, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

This year saw OPSS organise two large conferences, firstly the 4th ASEAN consumer protection conference in Cambodia in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). Secondly, in November 2024 we ran a joint conference with the OECD, providing training to member countries on the impact of digital technologies on regulation. OPSS supported and oversaw BSI in developing the next iteration of the ASEAN Sectoral Plan 2026-30, setting strategic goals and the standards agenda for ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality across the remainder of the programme.

Objective 4: Co-ordinating local and national regulation

OPSS coordinates the work of national and local regulators, through our administration of Primary Authority, and through collaboration with peer regulators and market surveillance authorities, including the Health and Safety Executive, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, fire and rescue services, environmental regulators and the devolved administrations. One of our most important interfaces is with local authorities (LAs) who act as the first point of enforcement for many issues, many of whom have border responsibilities at air or sea ports.

Border profiling

OPSS continued to deliver the UK’s product safety border programme to detect, deter and disrupt unsafe and non-compliant products at the border whilst ensuring compliant products transit the border with minimum burden. We work with HMRC and Border Force, and provide risk-based, intelligence-led targeting to enable checks by local authority teams and OPSS enforcement officers. In 2024-25 Border Delivery Team targeting resulted in checks on consignments covering over 14 million goods at the border, with 2.63 million goods (19%) refused entry to the UK. These included unsafe e-bikes, toys, cosmetics, baby products and electrical products.

Case study: Suffolk County Council co-operation

OPSS works closely with local authorities with border responsibilities. Suffolk County Council is responsible for the port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port. As a result of collaboration and intelligence sharing numerous high risk consignments have been intercepted. Examples include 6,289 telescopic ladders that were detained and assessed as unsafe with the help of new checklists developed with the Ladder Association and the Test & Research Centre. The importer agreed to have all the ladders destroyed. Across multiple consignments, 7,216 e-scooters were detained and either destroyed or are undergoing further investigations; a consignment of 857 pet heating pads were tested, found to be unsafe, and subsequently destroyed.

Local Authority Unit

Our Local Authority Unit (LAU) manages the single point of contact for LAs to contact OPSS. Since April 2024, LAU has managed over 800 incoming enquiries. In addition to addressing these queries for LAs, they help OPSS build a picture of the current and emerging issues LAs are dealing with, and help shape development of policy, tools, advice and training.

Funding capability development

We provided funding to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to deliver training, building capability and capacity for local authority regulators. Over 20 unique training courses were developed and delivered covering areas such as Construction Products, Legal Metrology and Product Safety, in the first year of the Building LA Capability contract with CTSI. Positive feedback from these training courses indicates LAs have been able to build upon existing skills and knowledge allowing them to take effective enforcement action.

We agreed grant funding arrangements with 11 district councils in Northern Ireland to help them implement market surveillance to meet the terms of the Windsor Framework. We also arranged funding with 7 LA test labs for product testing under the OPSS sampling protocol. OPSS provided grant funding for the testing of samples sourced by local authorities from the businesses responsible for placing products on the market. Currently over 500 products have been logged as tested under the 2024-25 sampling protocol. The sampling protocol enables LAs to have a cost free means of accessing scientific and technical expertise in testing of products to support regulatory activities, directly contributing to consumer safety and regulatory compliance.

Weights and measures coordination

Under Section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985, LAs in Great Britain have a statutory duty to report annually to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on weights and measures enforcement work. OPSS oversaw these returns ensuring a 100% response rate and published an analysis of the data. The data published in 2024 to 2025 applies to the year 2023 to 2024 due to reporting lags. More detail is available in the Section 70 Weights and Measures report 2023 to 2024 and the results for 2024 to 2025 are expected to be published in summer 2025.

OPSS arranged practical and oral sessions for weights and measures exams this year to fulfil the Secretary of State’s functions in relation to Section 73 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. 33 candidates took the exams.

Guidance and support to local authorities

We provide operational updates to LAs on topics including construction products, legal metrology, product safety and primary authority, as well as other government updates. We undertook a survey of LAs to gather information across areas of enforcement policy currently under review to support the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (now Act), with over 52 responses received. LAU are planning facilitated focus groups with LAs over the next few months.

OPSS is the enforcement authority for nationally significant, novel or contentious cases. We developed guidance for LAs describing how these criteria are applied, helping their decision-making processes.

We coordinated the delivery of 5 in-person Product Safety Database roadshows in collaboration with the OPSS digital team and local authorities. These roadshows provided valuable training and updates, enhancing the knowledge and skills of local regulators.

Case Study: Supporting local authorities in complex cases

OPSS was notified of an overheating fault on a model of combination boiler. Although this was a complex case, OPSS supported the local trading standards team to apply the PRISM risk methodology to identify the risks posed to users. We guided them to oversee the safety modification programme proposed by the manufacturer. This included best practice identified in PAS:7100 which gives guidance on product recalls and corrective actions. OPSS advised on consumer communications, including to vulnerable groups. We published a product recall notice that linked to the manufacturer’s recall communications and gave advice on how to minimise risks until the safety modification was completed. In a similar case, OPSS supported another trading standards team dealing with a gas leakage risk on a water heater designed for mobile homes, boats and similar applications. OPSS issued a recall notice and worked with trading standards and the manufacturer to oversee a recall programme to make affected units safe.

Supporting Primary Authority

Primary Authority (PA) has enabled businesses to receive assured and tailored advice on meeting environmental health, trading standards or fire safety regulations from a single local authority with that advice then applying nationally. As of 31 March 2025, 1,626 organisations were benefiting from a direct partnership and 165 organisations representing 110,804 members were benefiting from a coordinated partnership. We issued new Statutory Guidance on PA to LA stakeholders and the Fire and Rescue Services group. We also met with external stakeholders to discuss the development of an e-learning platform for PA, with content for the first module already created and providing a valuable training resource for regulators.

Construction products

OPSS continued engagement with businesses, trade associations, industry leaders, academia and other regulators to support business compliance and to influence industry decision making, while collaborating with MHCLG on planning a programme of engagement events aimed at facilitating effective discussion of the Government’s Construction Products Reform Green Paper.

OPSS participated in sector events, such as the Local Authority Building Control conference and 2 regional Building Control events, to raise awareness of OPSS market surveillance activities with those working in the building control profession. An example of our engagement with local authorities was close cooperation with Southampton Trading Standards. Local authority checks of plywood shipments raised concerns about documentation and product markings. Southampton requested and received advice from OPSS. Southampton then conducted a further inspection of the goods and quarantined the product. Based upon its findings, OPSS advice, and information supplied by the importer it rejected the consignment, preventing a non-compliant product from entering the UK market.

We adopted a united approach with other regulators to construction industry engagement. For instance, OPSS exhibited at the Building Safety Regulator Annual Conference, hosting its own panel session. OPSS invited representatives from the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and industry to speak in this session which included an engaging and industry facilitated Q&A section.

Market surveillance policy and co-ordination

We facilitate the National Regulators Forum, a group of UK regulators that share elements of their regulatory responsibilities as market surveillance authorities, through local government delivery or other shared objectives. We have shared operational activities, increased cooperation and joint working and increased the consistency of documentation. We have implemented sector specific subgroup meetings to nurture the national regulator relationships across more teams, building resilience and consistency into the regulatory responses to the product challenges for consumers presented by online marketplaces. This collaboration is ensuring that regulators are more connected and informed.

Objective 5: Inspiring confidence as a trusted regulator

The public and other stakeholders should be confident that OPSS is an objective, impartial and effective regulator. This requires us to build and maintain our organisational capabilities and ensure we have the processes, systems, capacity and expertise to deliver across all our objectives.

Skills and capability development

OPSS operates three schemes that aim to create a workforce talent pipeline, covering placements, a graduate recruitment scheme, and our apprentices. We offer year in industry placements for undergraduates, working with the Government Recruitment Service. This work engaging with universities helps broaden awareness of the work of OPSS and serves as an early talent pathway. Thirteen students from the 2024 appointments are on the scheme, and for our 2025 application round we had 495 applicants.

Our graduate scheme took on board 12 new starters from 738 applicants identified through a targeted relationship with universities and careers teams. The 30-month scheme aims to ensure an understanding of the role of OPSS, develop skills in different roles and steer graduates into a career in regulation with OPSS.

Digital, Data and Technology services

We continued work to incorporate our PRISM risk methodology into our Product Safety Database (PSD), and to better integrate PSD with our Enquiry Case Management System (ECM). PSD enables market surveillance authorities to report and share information relating to unsafe and noncompliant products; ECM is our service to manage enquiries, allegations and investigations into unsafe products on sale within the UK.

Statistics and data

We completed our three year data transformation programme which equips OPSS with improved data insights to support decision making. We finished the year with over 20 internal datasets and dashboards on our internal data platform. We launched our data charter, which brings together work to improve our data governance and sets out a series of commitments for staff to make to help us get the most out of our data.

We published the latest editions of our annual Official Statistics outputs on the Product Safety Database and Section 70 Weights and Measures returns and reports, as well as new statistics on e-bike and e-scooter fires, and on the OPSS Sampling Protocol. This protocol is a scheme through which OPSS provides grant funding to local authority operated test houses to undertake assessment and testing of products within OPSS’s remit.

Data science

OPSS’s data science team has been exploring how we can use and develop AI tools to automate some manual aspects of our processes. We have developed some proof of concept tools, such as one that automates the process of redacting personal information from test reports before they are shared with businesses. A key focus has been to identify opportunities for automation whilst retaining human oversight for decision making and quality assurance.

Recognising the evolving landscape of changing data and evidence needs, we developed a strategy that identifies collective evidence priorities across OPSS’ regulatory, policy and strategy remit. It considered how our evidence networks support effective delivery, and highlighted current gaps within our evidence system. We identified a range of evidence needs across OPSS, and from these drew out the high-level themes that will ensure we have the evidence we need to deliver OPSS’s objectives.

Research delivery

We established a strategic research delivery unit to better support evidence-based policy and enforcement actions. We increased the speed of research delivery by utilising the Research Collaboration Network, a framework agreement of specialist research providers. This year a total of 13 research reports were published by OPSS on GOV.UK. on a wide range of topics from construction products to cosmetics.

Through our register of specialists, we are able to rapidly contract ad hoc advice for incidents or research projects, provide specific pieces of work and research, and to form advisory groups comprising external experts. This year the register included experts in chemicals, materials and toxicology and construction products and was expanded to include paediatrics and child health and gas safety experts. We published four research reports in respect of construction products. Two of these helped build an evidence base in respect of the availability of incident data, along with identifying and evaluation of incident data. Other reports considered the construction products supply chain, and how domestic clients interact with construction products during works on their home.

Monitoring and evaluation

Expertise in monitoring and evaluation continues to grow across OPSS. In addition to supporting priority programmes to evaluate their processes and impacts, we have applied our evaluation toolkit to structure programmes or collect data in a way that supports effective delivery and evaluation. We shared our expertise with the secretariat of the OECD’s Regulatory Policy Committee on the use of logic maps to understand programme outcomes. This year we kicked off our first two formal evaluation contracts, focusing on our Construction Products Programme and the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme.

Economic analysis

We use economic analysis and advice to ensure OPSS makes the most effective decisions with the best information. We supported the impact assessment for the introduction of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (now Act), describing the impacts the bill and its powers would have on businesses and consumers. The impact assessment was quoted and referred to during parliamentary debates and received a green rating from external scrutiny by the UK’s Regulatory Policy Committee. We completed a number of light-touch economic assessments on regulatory changes covering cosmetics, electronics, furniture, pressure equipment and legal metrology.

Science, engineering and technology

OPSS is an evidence based regulator; we use science, engineering and technology to inform policy development, regulatory change, and to support investigations and enforcement. We continued to develop and refine our scientific evidence base related to consumer and construction products. We published research on the use of prostaglandin analogues in cosmetic products available to the UK consumer, and a call for evidence on the safety of a range of cosmetic ingredients. We also published research on the use of metal and non-metal nanomaterials in consumer products including cosmetics, toys, textiles (furniture and nightwear), and personal protective equipment.

Our Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS) provides independent scientific advice and risk assessment in the areas of public health and consumer safety. SAG-CS met five times, with three opinions published during the year. These opinions inform the risk management process and regulatory decision-making for cosmetic ingredients.

We monitored the work of conformity assessment bodies, undertook reviews of designated standards, proposing relevant changes, notably in support of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We delivered specialist engineering evidence and advice in support of investigations and enforcement activity. This included engineering expertise to support two local authorities dealing with safety issues of gas boilers and water heaters. We also led a BSI standards mapping project to develop a proof-of-concept tool to map mandatory construction product standards to relevant supporting standards.

We published OPSS’ first horizon scan, Scan 1.0, examining technology-driven changes likely to occur in the next two-to-seven years and how they might impact consumers, business, and regulatory stakeholders. Expert external consultants (Arup) helped develop our approach to this futures work. We also commissioned the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services to review research on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This work was published in July 2025 and explores key definitions of AI, the market for AI consumer products, product safety opportunities, benefits, challenges, risks, and regulatory and policy developments. OPSS also engaged with researchers and thought leaders in AI, and recently held a workshop at Cambridge University to discuss AI regulation for consumer products.

Product testing

OPSS uses a mix of internal and external laboratory testing to ensure product safety. We combine our in-house capabilities with external expertise to conduct thorough investigations and testing, ensuring product safety and supporting economic growth by protecting product safety, and the accuracy of weight or volume measures used in trade, including weighed foods, road fuels, metered energy, alcoholic measures, and packaged liquid volumes. We also offer calibration services for weights and measures to local authorities to support their enforcement work.

In the reporting year 26 individual testing projects were delivered externally. The external testing projects range from concrete mica blocks for construction products regulation to coin batteries sourced from online marketplaces. In total, 255 products were identified, sourced, catalogued, and submitted for testing externally by OPSS. Our own laboratories undertook 34 test projects and tested 962 items. These included measuring instruments, construction plywood, teeth whiteners, hot air brushes, life jackets, baby products, and electrical products.

In house laboratories

Our laboratories in Teddington are central in our plan to strengthen national testing and measurement capability for consumer and construction products. These facilities have recently undergone extensive renovation to expand in-house testing capabilities. The site now has 20 laboratories relevant to our work on product safety and standards, construction products and legal metrology. Each lab is equipped with specialist equipment tailored to particular types of testing and screening, such as materials, mechanical, electrical and visual inspection labs, along with chemical, noise, and flammability test facilities. Chemical analysis capabilities include advanced spectroscopy, gas and high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and flame ionisation equipment. These enable us to identify the chemical make-up of products we test, for example when we look for excess levels of chemicals in cosmetics or toys. We have 2 environmental chambers to allow us to test products under different conditions of low or high humidity, and in temperature ranges from -45C to +70C.

During the year, our analytical lab introduced two advanced instruments to enhance chemical testing: firstly, a scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for detailed, non-destructive analysis and identifying fracture types or contaminants. Secondly, a triple quadrupole liquid chromatography mass spectrometer capable of detecting chemical analytes at extremely low concentrations, often as low as parts per billion. These instruments enable OPSS to undertake a wide range of testing capabilities, on products ranging from construction products to toys, clothing, cosmetics, domestic appliances, and other consumer goods. Our engineering lab includes a universal testing machine, 3D scanning, thermal imaging, and digital microscopes for detailed examinations and engineering investigations.

Our laboratories continued to undertake calibration of weights and measures to support local authorities in their enforcement role.

Growing technical competencies

Our comprehensive mass calibration facilities have been successfully assessed by UKAS, further enhancing our technical credibility and reliability. We actively engaged in interlaboratory comparisons—one focusing on mass calibration with the National Physical Laboratory and another involving chemical testing in collaboration with the European Network of Official Cosmetics Control Laboratories. Both comparisons resulted in excellent outcomes, enhancing the reputation of the OPSS testing laboratories as a trusted authority both nationally and internationally.

Governance and accountability

Who we are

OPSS is part of the Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group within DBT, reporting to the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets. We report to MHCLG and the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth respect of construction products matters. The nature of our work links to many other government departments, and we work closely with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This report covers the delivery activities of OPSS. Audited financial statements, notes to the accounts and disclosures on staffing and environmental matters are reported at departmental level in the annual reports of the Department for Business and Trade.

Accountability to business

During the year we have held 2 business accountability forum meetings. This bi-annual meeting provides a route for businesses to hear about, inform, and scrutinise OPSS’ approach to our role as a regulator. Attendees are encouraged to provide feedback on our approach to enforcement, with a particular focus on the strategy, policies and procedures that underpin our enforcement operations, and on our work to improve transparency. At each meeting we test our thinking and seek feedback to help us develop our processes, mechanisms and procedures to improve our performance and the service we provide to business.

External review of complaints, challenges and appeals processes

OPSS has appointed an external reviewer of our complaints, challenges and appeals (CCA) processes. The external reviewer is not an adjudicator, but advises how we can improve these processes, to give assurance to businesses that concerns will be given fair and careful consideration.

The first review concluded that OPSS guidance on CCA both internal and public facing is accessible, multi-channel, clear and easily understood. Performance expectations were set, transparent and reasonable compared to other similar organisations. Sufficient safeguards were found to allow individuals and businesses to raise issues easily and without concern, and OPSS language was open and non-defensive.

Some recommendations were made to improve the CCA process, including that publication of the CCA performance would increase public and business confidence. It was also noted that additional guidance was needed to help staff handling potentially vexatious complaints.

Sample complaint review

The external reviewer also considered a sample of complaints from previous years. Findings from this sample were that responses to the initial complaints were generally timely but some deadlines were missed. There was evidence of an open and accountable approach to complainants, and the tone and content of OPSS responses was generally helpful, accessible and addressed the issues being raised. Decisive and appropriate measures were taken in response to the complaints. The review highlighted good working practices across OPSS, and professional, open and collaborative approach to working with MP’s Office and Ministerial Private Office. Recommendations were made for administrative updates to be made to our processes and our use of the ECM system, along with further training of staff in the handling of complainants, focusing on written communications.

During the year 2024-25, OPSS received 8 complaints; All were reviewed in accordance with our processes and responded to. None of these complaints were upheld.

OPSS finance

Our total budget at the start of 2024-25 was £65 million; most of this funding came from DBT, MHCLG, and Defra.

OPSS leadership

OPSS CEO Graham Russell is responsible for building the capacity of the OPSS team to upgrade the UK’s product safety system and to improve the delivery of product regulation in the UK. Our leadership team reports to DBT ministers and to the DBT Executive Committee. We report to MHCLG Ministers for construction products regulation.

OPSS delivers its work through 4 impact areas: Enabling, Policy, Regulation and Evidence. Each area is overseen by a Deputy Chief Executive Officer, reporting to the CEO.

OPSS Advisory Board

The OPSS Advisory Board typically meets once a quarter and its role is based on the model of non-executive directors. Members bring knowledge from similar delivery organisations and related non-governmental bodies, acting as critical friends, without formal governance responsibilities. The group provides external support and challenge to help OPSS meet the evolving regulatory challenges of new products and technologies, to keep consumers safe and support businesses in realising the opportunities of innovation. The group is not involved in operational decisions, such as handling individual regulatory incidents.

For the period 2024-25 members were:

• Jason Feeney, former Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency
• Neil Gibbins, Fire Risk Consultant and former Senior Fire Officer
• Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar at Warwick University
• Errol Taylor, former Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• Professor Shirley Price, Academic Director University of Surrey (also Chair of SAG-CS)

Recent discussion topics have included the Grenfell Inquiry Report, the safety and regulatory issues surrounding e-bikes and e-scooters, culture and values in a maturing organisation and future challenges.

During this period we have also been undertaking a refresh of the Advisory Board to ensure we have the right skills and experience required to support and challenge the senior leadership team as we further mature as an organisation. This includes updating the Terms of Reference, improving governance around the group to reflect recognised good practice and expanding the membership to ensure a diverse range of views can be heard.

Glossary

Acronym	Meaning
ABS	Access and Benefit Sharing
AFIR	Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations
AFLR	Alternative Fuel Labelling and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations
AI	Artificial Intelligence
ASEAN	Association of South East Asian Nations
BHC	British Hallmarking Council
BSI	British Standards Institution
CABs	Conformity Assessment Bodies
CAM-EP	Case Assessment and Monitoring Escalation Protocol
CAPT	Child Accident Prevention Trust
CCA	Complaints, challenges and appeals
CCPI	Code for Construction Products Information
CPTPP	Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
CTSI	Chartered Trading Standards Institute
DBT	Department for Business and Trade
Defra	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DESNZ	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
DfT	Department for Transport
DTS	Distributor Takeback Scheme
DSIT	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
ECM	Enquiry Case Management
EU	European Union
EVSCPR	Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations
FCDO	Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
FLEGT	Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade
FTAs	Free Trade Agreements
GIZ	Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
IST	In-Service Testing
LAs	Local Authorities
LAU	Local Authority Unit
MHCLG	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
NPL	National Physical Laboratory
NPWD	National Packaging Waste Database
NQI	National Quality Infrastructure
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OM	Online Marketplace
OMP	Online Marketplaces Programme
ONS	Office for National Statistics
OPSS	Office for Product Safety and Standards
OZEV	Office for Zero Emission Vehicles
PA	Primary Authority
PAS	Publicly Available Specification
PRISM	Product Risk Assessment Methodology
PSD	Product Safety Database
PCPR	Public Charge Point Regulations
RoSPA	Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
SAG-CS	Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products
SIs	Statutory Instruments
UKAS	United Kingdom Accreditation Service
UKMCAB	United Kingdom Market Conformity Assessment Bodies
UKRI	United Kingdom Research and Innovation
UKTR	United Kingdom Timber Regulations
WEEE	Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
WMG	Warwick Manufacturing Group