Consumer Protection and the Safety of Products

Consumer protection is a group of laws and regulations to ensure the rights of consumers, and that sellers and manufacturers adhere to certain standards of behaviour in the marketplace.
The main objective is to prevent businesses from taking part in fraudulent activities or unfair practices so consumers can make knowledgeable and safe choices about products and services.
Unsafe products are products which do not meet the basic safety requirements set by regulation or law, and can potentially cause harm to consumers.

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is a central piece of legislation. It defines the rights of consumers and remedies for when those rights are breached, mainly regarding contracts for goods, digital content, and services.
Businesses must ensure the goods they sell are of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose, as described, and meet models or samples provided.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 obliges producers to only place safe products on the market and provide information to consumers on any risks that products might pose.

Trading Standards is a government service, with powers to investigate breaches of consumer protection legislation. They can also prosecute businesses that do not comply with the law.
Trading standards officers can make test purchases, enter premises, seize goods, and inspect any documents related to goods in question.
They can issue formal cautions or penalties and can take businesses to court where breaches of the law have occurred.

Businesses must ensure that their products meet the required safety standards and that descriptions of their products are accurate.
Businesses must act promptly and appropriately when a product recall is necessary due to safety issues, to limit harm to consumers and to the business reputation.
Compliance with consumer protection laws can increase customer trust, and therefore enhance a company’s reputation and competitiveness.
Failure to comply can result in harsh penalties, including fines, legal action, negative publicity, loss of customer trust, and potential closure.

Beyond law and regulation, businesses should be committed to ethical behaviour in their dealings with customers.
This includes transparent marketing, fair pricing, respect for customer privacy, and speedy and effective resolution of any complaints or problems.
Ethical behaviour not only protects customers but also helps build a long-term, sustainable competitive advantage for the business.