News
vlog urges government to use the summer to prepare a radical overhaul of the UK product safety regime
Posted 19/07/17
Adam Scorer, Director of Policy at vlog said;"We are getting the first, clearsignals fromgovernment that it is prepared tolook at more radicalreforms toconsumer protection in this area.In particular, we welcome anew focus on building the framework for a national body on product safety.
"We would undoubtedly want things to move more quickly, but weare more concerned that they move in the right direction.
"Between now and the Government's formal response in the Autumn, we would urge them to commit to:
- a central web portal so that consumers, retailers and others have a single authoritative source for information onproduct recalls, corrective actions and other safety alerts;
- a national body, that can deploy technical skills andexpertise in product safety, to support trading standards officers carry out forensic market surveillance;
- re-organising trading standards functions, so that non-local,strategicissues are delivered on aregional or nationalbasis, rather than remain the responsibility of over 200 local authorities.
"Things are moving quickly in the aftermath of Grenfell. That is right and proper. But we are prepared to wait a little longer so that Government cansettle on a trulyradical transformation of our product safety regime."