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Consumer Goods: Sales

Question for Department for Business and Trade

UIN 13389, tabled on 11 November 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will take steps to prevent third-party sellers from selling dangerous goods to consumers.

Answered on

14 November 2024

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe. Third-party sellers have clear obligations under legislation where they are either producers or distributors.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards carries out a range of regulatory actions to reduce the risk of unsafe products being sold online by third-party sellers. This includes test purchasing, taking enforcement action, providing guidance to sellers, and working with Local Authority Trading Standards and Border Force to undertake co-ordinated interventions.

In addition, the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will provide powers to update the responsibilities of online supply chain actors, including third-party sellers.