Guidance

Product safety for businesses: A to Z of industry guidance

Find out which regulations apply to your products and where to go for further information on how to comply with them.

Introduction: general product safety law

If you make, import, distribute or sell products in the UK, you need to understand the basics of product safety law.

You must comply with the regulations for specific product types. If none apply, you must comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. To learn more about them visit:

Product safety advice for businesses

General Product Safety Regulations 2005

A to Z of industry guidance

Read OPSS COVID-19 guidance for businesses on:

  • the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations
  • the manufacture of PPE
  • the manufacture of face coverings and face visors
  • placing hand cleaning and sanitising products on the UK market

The following links can help you understand which regulations for specific product types apply to your business and how to comply.

While the various regulations still cover the UK following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, their provisions are now applied differently in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Consequently, there is separate guidance for businesses selling products in these areas. This will continue to be the case while the Northern Ireland Protocol is in force.

Placing certain products on the Northern Ireland market

For guidance on regulations relating to:

Aerosols

Guidance on applicable regulations

Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009

British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA)

Construction

Guidance on applicable regulations and associated resources

Construction Products Regulations 2013 – guidance from DLUHC

National regulation: construction products

Construction products

Construction Products Association

Cosmetics

Guidance on applicable regulations and associated resources

Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013

Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain

Access the GB Submit cosmetic product notification service

Cosmetic products: reporting serious undesirable effects (SUEs)

Cosmetic products: exemption process for CMR substances

Cosmetic products

Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA)

Dummies

The N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable Substances in Elastomer or Rubber Teats and Dummies (Safety) Regulations 1995 apply.

Electrical and electronic

Guidance on applicable regulations and associated resources

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016

Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2006 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market or put into service prior to this date.

Radio Equipment Regulations 2017

Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Regulations 2000 – These regulations were revoked on 26 December 2017 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

The Plugs and Sockets (Safety) etc. Regulations 1994 also apply.

Using button and coin batteries

Electrical equipment

Second hand electrical goods

Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA)

Equipment for explosive atmospheres

Guidance on applicable regulations

Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016

Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market or put into service prior to this date.

Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Fireworks and pyrotechnics

Guidance on applicable regulations

Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 – These regulations cover fireworks and pyrotechnic articles for vehicles.

Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010 – These regulations were revoked on 17 August 2015 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

The Fireworks Act 2003 and Fireworks Regulations 2004 also apply.

Storage and supply of fireworks

British Fireworks Association

Food imitations

The Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1989 apply.

Food imitations

Furniture

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 apply.

Upholstered furniture

Second hand upholstered furniture

British Furniture Confederation (BFC)

Gas appliances

Guidance on applicable regulations

Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018

Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 – These regulations were revoked on 21 April 2018 but continue to apply to relevant appliances and fittings placed on the market prior to this date.

Second hand gas cooking appliances

Lifts

Guidance on applicable regulations

Lifts Regulations 2016

Lifts Regulations 1997 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA)

Machinery

Guidance on applicable regulations

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 – These regulations are specific to pesticide application equipment.

Nightwear

The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 apply.

Nightwear

Oil heaters

The Oil Heaters (Safety) Regulations 1977 apply.

Outdoor equipment

Guidance on applicable regulations

Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001

Personal protective equipment

Guidance on applicable regulations

Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018

Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 – These regulations were revoked on 21 April 2018 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market until 21 April 2019.

British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)

Pressure equipment

Guidance on applicable regulations

Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016

Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016

Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991 – These regulations were revoked on 8 December 2016 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market prior to this date.

Recreational craft

Guidance on applicable regulations

Recreational Craft Regulations 2017

Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 – These regulations were revoked on 3 August 2017 but continue to apply to relevant products placed on the market or put into service prior to this date.

Recreational craft

British Marine

Toys

Guidance on applicable regulations and associated resources

Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011

Using button and coin batteries

Toys

British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA)

Toy Retailers Association

Published 29 March 2019
Last updated 7 November 2023 + show all updates
  1. Link added to new guide on the equipment for explosive atmospheres regulations for Northern Ireland, as amended in August 2023.

  2. Link added to OPSS COVID-19 guidance for businesses on placing hand cleaning and sanitising products on the UK market.

  3. Link added to guidance on how product safety regulations will change after Brexit.

  4. First published.