The Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) welcomes the report, ‘Protecting the Consumer from Unsafe Products’, conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO).

In their report, launched today, NAO examine the extent to which the UK’s product safety regime protects consumers from harm, with a specific focus on the role of The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) since its creation in 2018.

In January 2018, the government established the OPSS to strengthen the regulatory regime and take leadership on product safety issues. The report highlights progress in key areas where the OPSS has played an important leadership role, including noting some of their impactful responses to some high-profile national product safety issues^.

RoSPA have been keen champions of product safety and raising consumer awareness over many years and have worked closely with the OPSS on many issues and campaigns, including the delivery of key safety messaging around magnets, button batteries and whirlpool tumble dryers, some of which are mentioned in the report.

RoSPA and OPSS are also delivering a pilot project that will provide more data and intelligence from hospitals on product related injuries. This project aligns with the importance of attaining specific product safety data and information identified in the NAO report.

With consumer engagement on product safety reported as weak, and the OPSS research estimates that only 17% of consumers consider product safety when making purchase decisions⁶, RoSPA recognises the importance of continuing to inform and protect people and businesses across the UK by supporting the OPSS and their regulatory efforts.

RoSPA have contributed to the current Product Safety Review being conducted by OPSS and looks forward to continue working with OPSS on future product safety developments driven by the information and evidence on product safety, and the findings of the NAO report.