The Office for Product Safety and Standards oversees and coordinates the UK’s product safety framework which covers products sold in-store and online, and activity at the border. Businesses placing products on the UK market must ensure they’re safe and free from asbestos and OPSS has published business guidance on controls they need to have in place, including testing.

To date 69 recalls of products have been recalled as a result of action by OPSS and local authorities, including at the border. OPSS are continuing their market surveillance activities and will take action if businesses are not meeting their legal obligations.

Since 2021, 69 asbestos-contaminated consumer products have been recalled, including 36 toys. Of the 69, 66 occurred in 2026 and 3 in 2025. All 36 toy recalls occurred in 2026. Where known, the country of origin is listed on the published Product Recall GOV.UK page.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring products placed on the market are safe and compliant with relevant legislation. Where businesses do not comply, local authorities and OPSS have powers to investigate and take action. Local authorities have a responsibility to regulate businesses in their area. OPSS leads on regulation of online marketplaces.

Since 2021, 69 asbestos-contaminated consumer products have been recalled, including 36 toys. Of the 69, 66 occurred in 2026 and 3 in 2025. All 36 toy recalls occurred in 2026. Where known, the country of origin is listed on the published Product Recall GOV.UK page.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring products placed on the market are safe and compliant with relevant legislation. Where businesses do not comply, local authorities and OPSS have powers to investigate and take action. Local authorities have a responsibility to regulate businesses in their area. OPSS leads on regulation of online marketplaces.

Since 2021, 69 asbestos-contaminated consumer products have been recalled, including 36 toys. Of the 69, 66 occurred in 2026 and 3 in 2025. All 36 toy recalls occurred in 2026. Where known, the country of origin is listed on the published Product Recall GOV.UK page.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring products placed on the market are safe and compliant with relevant legislation. Where businesses do not comply, local authorities and OPSS have powers to investigate and take action. Local authorities have a responsibility to regulate businesses in their area. OPSS leads on regulation of online marketplaces.

OPSS has published guidance for businesses on assuring the products they import and distribute are asbestos-free. OPSS works with local authorities to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of recalls and has regular dialogue with key businesses and representative organisations for the toy, retail and online sectors most affected by this issue.

OPSS works with agencies across Government, and with industry, to investigate the supply chain, to understand the origin of materials and their potential routes into the UK market. Raising awareness and understanding has prompted stronger due diligence and resulted in more action to remove products from the market.

OPSS has published guidance for businesses on assuring the products they import and distribute are asbestos-free. OPSS works with local authorities to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of recalls and has regular dialogue with key businesses and representative organisations for the toy, retail and online sectors most affected by this issue.

OPSS works with agencies across Government, and with industry, to investigate the supply chain, to understand the origin of materials and their potential routes into the UK market. Raising awareness and understanding has prompted stronger due diligence and resulted in more action to remove products from the market.

OPSS has published guidance for businesses on assuring the products they import and distribute are asbestos-free. OPSS works with local authorities to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of recalls and has regular dialogue with key businesses and representative organisations for the toy, retail and online sectors most affected by this issue.

OPSS works with agencies across Government, and with industry, to investigate the supply chain, to understand the origin of materials and their potential routes into the UK market. Raising awareness and understanding has prompted stronger due diligence and resulted in more action to remove products from the market.

OPSS has published guidance for businesses on assuring the products they import and distribute are asbestos-free. OPSS works with local authorities to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of recalls and has regular dialogue with key businesses and representative organisations for the toy, retail and online sectors most affected by this issue.

OPSS works with agencies across Government, and with industry, to investigate the supply chain, to understand the origin of materials and their potential routes into the UK market. Raising awareness and understanding has prompted stronger due diligence and resulted in more action to remove products from the market.

OPSS has published guidance for businesses on assuring the products they import and distribute are asbestos-free. OPSS works with local authorities to ensure and monitor the effectiveness of recalls and has regular dialogue with key businesses and representative organisations for the toy, retail and online sectors most affected by this issue.

OPSS works with agencies across Government, and with industry, to investigate the supply chain, to understand the origin of materials and their potential routes into the UK market. Raising awareness and understanding has prompted stronger due diligence and resulted in more action to remove products from the market.

Product safety legislation prohibits asbestos in toys, in any concentration.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is aware of this issue and has required businesses to recall asbestos-contaminated products.

OPSS is working with local authorities and business groups to monitor product recalls and ensure the potential risks are understood. Advisory information has been published for businesses on carrying out effective testing, and supply chain assurance, to identify any further products requiring recall. The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 provides powers to update and strengthen the products safety framework and the Department recently consulted on proposed reforms.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is in regulation communication with local authorities on the issue of toys contaminated with asbestos. OPSS has provided two online technical briefings for frontline officers, and includes information and updates in communications which are received by regulatory heads of service in LAs on a weekly basis.

OPSS also engages with LAs in relation to particular businesses in their area, or with whom they have a primary authority partnership, to ensure businesses are aware of their responsibilities, take action as appropriate and recall products as necessary to keep consumers safe.

Since 2021, 69 asbestos-contaminated consumer products have been recalled, including 36 toys. Of the 69, 66 occurred in 2026 and 3 in 2025. All 36 toy recalls occurred in 2026. Where known, the country of origin is listed on the published Product Recall GOV.UK page.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring products placed on the market are safe and compliant with relevant legislation. Where businesses do not comply, local authorities and OPSS have powers to investigate and take action. Local authorities have a responsibility to regulate businesses in their area. OPSS leads on regulation of online marketplaces.

No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing.

The Home Office will manage any asbestos on site adhering to the ‘Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ and the associated Approved Code Of Practice (L143 ACOPS).

Under UK law, businesses placing consumer products on the market, including importers, are responsible for ensuring they are safe. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local authorities have powers to require unsafe products be withdrawn from sale. Local Authorities are overseeing business recalls of products containing asbestos, and OPSS has notified major online marketplaces so they can swiftly identify and remove listings of affected products.

OPSS coordinates activity at ports and borders to identify and block non-compliant imports, and has asked local authorities in border locations to increase checks for asbestos-contaminated products.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is continuing its long-term work to deliver regulatory interventions, new communication campaigns and asbestos-related research in support of wider Government priorities. This work is aligned with those recommendations in the 2022 Work and Pensions Select Committee (WPC) report on HSE’s approach to asbestos management, which were accepted in the previous government’s response.

Three WPC recommendations related to specific requirements of Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE is considering how best to address the findings of a public consultation which closed in January 2026. The consultation sought stakeholder’s views on regulatory and non-regulatory proposals to ensure the independence and impartiality of roles in the four-stage clearance process, improving the standard of asbestos surveys, and clarifying the type of work that constitutes Notifiable Non-Licensed Work with asbestos.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) provide a robust regulatory system to ensure that asbestos-containing materials in non-domestic buildings are managed proactively, to prevent harm to building occupants on the basis that asbestos in good condition that is undamaged, undisturbed, properly maintained and regularly monitored can be safely left in situ.

Where asbestos cannot be managed safely in situ it must be removed. Asbestos must also be removed before any major refurbishment work or before demolition.