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Market surveillance authorities, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards, have responsibility for regulating product safety in the UK. The Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls area is used by UK market surveillance authorities to notify unsafe and noncompliant products, including those that present a risk to the health and safety of consumers. The online system serves as a single rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products. Weekly reports are issued on the website. The weekly reports only cover non-food consumer products; therefore, they do not cover food and drink, vehicles, or medicines and medical devices.
Unsafe products that pose a risk to the health and safety of consumers may be recalled.
CTPA regularly checks the notifications made via the rapid alert system website. For information, below are recent notifications made:
- A bath bomb presenting a chemical risk due the containing butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products. The product was recalled from end users.
- A skin lightening cream with a chemical risk due to containing hydroquinone which is a skin sensitiser and may cause allergic contact dermatitis. The product was seized from the retail premised by the local authority.
- A sunscreen with a serious risk to health due to failed SPF testing, placing consumers at risk of sunburn. The product was recalled from end users.
- A skin lightening cream with a chemical risk due to containing hydroquinone which is a skin sensitiser and may cause allergic contact dermatitis. The products were seized and destroyed.
- A deodorant presenting reports of consumers receiving adverse effects, in particular skin irritation. The product was withdrawn from the market.
