Unsafe products could flood UK after Brexit, says consumer advocacy group

Consumer advocacy group Which? has warned that unsafe products could flood the UK after the country leaves the EU’s Safety Gate system, leaving the public vulnerable.

According to the group’s analysis, Safety Gate issued 2,064 alerts on dangerous non-good products in 2018, 34% more than a decade earlier, on products ranging from toxic children’s putty to flammable laptop batteries to explosive airbags. Toys and vehicles had the highest number of safety notices overall.

However, there could be delays to the identification of such hazards if the UK doesn’t negotiate continued access to the system.

“With more products than ever before being declared unsafe, it’s clear that an already failing customer enforcement system needs a major shake-up to ensure that people aren’t left at risk from dangerous products in their homes,” said Which?’s director of advocacy, Caroline Normand, referring to a domestic system already under strain due to dependency on cash-strapped local authorities.

“If it is to make people’s safety the number one priority, the government must secure access to the European alert and information sharing systems after Brexit, as well as introduce major domestic reforms to ensure customers are properly protected from unsafe products.”

Source: The Guardian