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Written question asked by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour) on Monday, 24 November 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2025. It was answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2025 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Products: Internet

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent findings from Which? that nearly 800 products for sale on online marketplaces were similar or identical to items already flagged as unsafe by the Office for Product Safety and Standards in the past year, whether they plan to introduce a duty for online marketplaces to tackle unsafe products sold on their platforms; and if so, when.

Answer

UK product safety law is clear: all products must be safe before being placed on the market. However, it continues to be too easy for non-compliant goods to be made available to UK consumers online. The Government has therefore introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025. The Act allows us to introduce clear and proportionate obligations on online marketplaces to improve consumer safety and ensure fair market competition.

We have committed to consult on proposals to modernise these responsibilities in early 2026. This will build upon best practice to create an effective and proportionate regulatory framework.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12266
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Internet Safety Products Sales
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk