Product Safety
Many people are injured each year due to faulty consumer goods.
Product safety involves ensuring all goods on sale to the public are safe for their intended use.
The responsibility to supply safe consumer goods applies all the way down from the manufacturer to the retailer.
This means, that products being sold should comply with any relevant legislation.
Legal requirements are the same whether you supply goods from a premises, home, a stall or via online platforms.
Sector specific guidance on a range of products can be found at:
The following links may also help provide information on your product safety requirements:
- Gov.uk website's Product Safety Advice for Businesses
- Business Companion website: Product Safety
- NIBusinessInfo website's Your Legal Responsibilities - Product Safety
Guidance on the regulation of e-cigarettes can be found at the following link:
MHRA is the competent authority for the notification scheme for e-cigarettes and refill containers in the UK.
The following link may be useful.
Product recalls and safety notices are made by traders about products that have problems which could affect the safety of the consumer.
You can find details on the following link.
You can also keep abreast of any safety repairs or recalls on products that you may have, by registering your appliances.
Details can be found on the following link:
What we do:
Local councils have enforcement responsibilities for safety related issues with Consumer Goods.
The Council helps protect consumers against unsafe goods.
We will:
- Respond to consumer complaints.
- Carry out programmed inspections of premises to ensure goods on sale are safe.
- Provide advice to suppliers about legislation.
- Sample consumer goods to ensure they meet required standards of safety.
Contact us
If you would like further information on any of the information on this page please contact your local Environmental Health office on T: 0300 124 5000.
Other useful links:
The role of Trading Standards is to promote and maintain fair trading, protect consumers and help reputable businesses to thrive in NI.
For information on Trading Standards issues visit the Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service website.
The Consumer Council provide free independent support and advice for all consumers and businesses in N.I.
They also have the powers to investigate complaints about energy, water, transport and postal services.
For General Consumer queries visit the Consumer Council website.
Contact us
If you would like further information on any of the information on this page please contact your local Environmental Health office on T: 0300 124 5000