Trading standards - product safety

All products sold to consumers must be safe.

Some products such as toys, electrical goods, cosmetics and furniture have very detailed safety rules that must be followed by manufacturers, importers and retailers. Even products used by consumers in hotel rooms are covered.

Safety is of paramount importance to trading standards. Trading Standards inspect, sample and test consumer products such as toys, children's clothes etc. to check for any hazards and assess risks. This helps to make sure only safe products are sold. Second hand goods as well as in the case of new goods are also controlled and should also be safe.

When safety issues occur a product recall notice may be issued for the return to the supplier of a batch or an entire production run of the goods.

Responsible manufacturers and distributors publish details in the national press and retailers in their own stores. Use the associated links to find out details of recent product recalls in the UK and what issues come up in Europe and internationally. The UK product recall website also lists recalled food items.

If you or a child has been injured by a product then please report the incident to us. Use the see also link for consumer advice. Obviously do not continue to use the product and where possible please retain it and any associated packaging, instructions for use etc. as they may be required for examining/testing by trading standards.

Furniture

Beware of safety problems when buying furniture from one-off sale events. Cut-price furniture sales advertised by leaflet drops or sold door-to-door can seem like a bargain but could pose serious safety risks. In the past many such sofas have failed to meet our strict UK safety standards. Under UK law, new and second-hand upholstered furniture must be made of fire-resistant materials.

Toys

Parents and carers should regularly look carefully at their children's toys for signs of wear and breakages. Damaged toys can hurt youngsters as they could choke on bits which come off or they could be injured by sharp edges.

EU Rapid Alert System (RAPEX)

RAPEX is the EU's reporting system for notifying everyone of dangerous consumer products found in the European Community.

It allows for the quick exchange of information between member states and the European Commission on measures taken to stop or restrict the issue of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers.

Most of the alerts cover toys, electrical appliances, motor vehicles, lighting equipment and cosmetics.

The RAPEX public website is fully searchable for product data going back to 2005. It also reports on the latest European safety news – see associated link.

Help and Advice

Consumer Direct offers a telephone service, Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, use the number below.

You can also use the associated link to register your complaint with Consumer Direct on-line.

Croydon Trading Standards also offers a face-to-face advisory service. This service is available on an appointment-only basis. To book an appointment use the contact details below or visit our One Stop facility in Taberner House.