The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published its first horizon scan, a systematic assessment of future risks and opportunities arising from technological changes. The scan, conducted in collaboration with Arup Foresight, evaluated 71 specific technologies to optimize effective regulation for UK businesses, consumers, and stakeholders. OPSS has identified 20 technologies as most relevant to its work and included three rapid evidence reviews. The report outlines the methodology, quality assurance processes, and outcomes, aiming to enhance OPSS's horizon scanning capabilities for future regulatory and policy challenges.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published guidance for consumers concerning consumer products containing sand contaminated with asbestos, following the identification of such available on the UK market. The guidance confirms that UK businesses selling asbestos-contaminated consumer products are required to issue recalls, with Local Authority Trading Standards overseeing the recall process. Both OPSS and Trading Standards hold enforcement powers under product safety regulations. OPSS has also published a technical advisory note establishing testing methods for identifying asbestos in consumer products containing sand. The guidance also sets out disposal procedures for both consumers and businesses, including requirements to seek specialist waste management advice. Employers are encouraged to follow the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, SI 2012/632 and management of asbestos in workplace settings.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published guidance on the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which will come into effect on 30 October 2025. The amendments remove specified baby and children's products from scope, eliminate display label requirements while maintaining permanent label obligations, and extend the timeframe for instituting legal proceedings from six to 12 months. The statutory instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament on 30 April 2025, with implementation delayed by six months to meet the World Trade Organisation's obligations. Products removed from scope will need to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR 2005), SI 2005/1803 in Great Britain and EU Regulation 2023/988 in Northern Ireland.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published guidance on products and hazards deemed to pose serious risk, alongside examples of safety risk assessments for products such as non-compliant cat seats, room or space heaters, or toys with a detachable part. The guidance supports the use of the Product Safety Risk Assessment Methodology (PRISM) toolkit by authorities in England, Wales and Scotland who are responsible for consumer product safety.

The Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) has published its response to a call for evidence on machinery safety legislation, announcing the government's intention to continue CE recognition for machinery products in Great Britain and update the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. The response follows consultation with 48 respondents, of whom 45 supported continued recognition of EU product requirements and 43 favoured adopting a similar approach in GB to the EU's new Machinery Regulation 2023/1230. The government will lay legislation to continue CE recognition when Parliamentary time allows and will introduce measures compatible with EU requirements, though full alignment is not possible due to national requirements including UK conformity assessment bodies and UKCA marking. For Northern Ireland, implementation of the EU Regulation under the Windsor Framework requires legislation to be laid in Parliament by October 2026, in line with the EU deadline for enforcement provisions applying from January 2027.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published research examining consumer behaviour on online marketplaces, based on a quantitative survey of 2,073 UK online marketplace users and three focus group discussions conducted in February and April 2025. The research found that 44% of users have little to no understanding of the difference between online marketplaces and other websites, with 46% selecting incorrect definitions of online marketplaces. The study revealed that only 20% of users consider product safety when choosing an online marketplace, with consumers predominantly relying on reviews rather than formal safety certifications. While 26% of respondents took no steps to check product safety when purchasing, one-third assumed products would be safe without verification. The research identified that Temu, Wish and TikTok Shop received the highest negative impressions among users, with 42%, 28% and 31% respectively stating they would avoid purchasing from these platforms. OPSS recommends clearer messaging about what constitutes online marketplaces and increased consumer awareness of product safety measures to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published the government’s response to its common charger call for evidence, confirming that the government does not currently intend to introduce common charger regulations in Great Britain (GB). The call for evidence received 104 substantive responses, with 35% of respondents considering regulation unnecessary because USB-C has become the industry default. Respondents also raised concerns about additional business burdens, constraints on innovation and potential impacts on the refurbished technology market. Overall, 86% said any regulations should align with EU and Northern Ireland requirements to avoid the costs of unnecessary divergence. The government will continue recognising CE marking to support trade and market alignment. It will keep technological and regulatory developments under review and reconsider its position if necessary.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published a revised version of its enforcement policy. The policy covers the OPSS’s approach addressing non-compliance and product safety risk; conduct of investigations; decisions on enforcement action; compliance advice and guidance; undertakings; enforcement notices; financial penalties; simple caution and prosecution.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has released information for the construction industry and wider built environment. The OPSS currently regulates the Construction Products Regulations 2013, SI 2023/1387 which were amended in 2022. The OPSS has increased the level of market surveillance across the construction products sector, taking a risk-based and proportionate approach to enforcement action in line with the enforcement policy.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has released a report on how its monitoring and evaluation is delivered, demonstrating what OPSS does and how those activities produce outcomes. The key elements of the framework establish a set of practices in OPSS that support delivery of the framework aims. These elements include outcome focused storytelling, metrics used to monitor and manage progress, research, and analysis projects to build an evidence base for taking action, evaluation projects to demonstrate contribution to outcomes, and an assessment of value for money.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has published research detailing major AI regulatory changes. The UK's Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, effective from April 2024, introduces security requirements for consumer connectable products with fines up to £10m or 4% of worldwide revenue for breaches. The EU enacted its AI Act in March 2024, requiring assessment of high-risk AI systems and prohibiting certain applications. While the UK maintains a non-statutory approach, focusing on existing regulators developing tailored frameworks, the government has indicated plans to legislate specifically for powerful AI models. The research also notes China's generative AI law from August 2023 and South Korea's new AI industry framework, while Japan and Singapore currently rely on non-statutory guidelines.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has updated their Incident Management Plan. This plan sets out OPSS’s framework for recognising and responding to incidents in conjunction with policy owners, agencies, local authorities, other market surveillance authorities, border control and ports authorities, stakeholders and industry. The plan has been updated to include additions to the escalation procedures, command and control arrangements.