Product liability reform: New Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025

The law on product safety is set to undergo reform as the new Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 was passed in July.

Prior to Brexit, most of the key product safety legislation applying in the United Kingdom – such as the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 – was derived from EU law. This law – which imposes various duties on manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure the safety of the products they place onto the market – has largely been retained post-Brexit and continues to apply.

The Act does not itself make any immediate sweeping changes to the existing law on product liability. However, it grants the government extensive powers to introduce sector-specific secondary legislation as and when required, in order to address the particular safety risks for these sectors. There will be a particular focus on new and emerging risks in areas such as online marketplaces, regulation of higher risk product sectors (including products such as e-bikes and e-scooters with lithium ion batteries), and technology including 3D printing and  augmented reality. It is not yet clear to what extent any new regulations introduced will diverge from, or largely remain aligned with, EU product safety law.

The Act will apply to most products, but certain categories are excluded and will continue to be regulated by the existing regime. These include food, plants, medicines and medical devices, and aircraft components and equipment.

Manufacturers and suppliers can contact our Dispute Resolution team for advice if they have any queries about their safety obligations and regulatory responsibilities, including product recall.