The UK Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 was Enacted

By Susana Planas MunGavin BSc., MSc, senior regulatory specialist, Supply Chain Team, UL Solutions

On July 21, 2025, the UK Product Regulation and Metrology Act (PRMA) 2025, c. 20, was enacted. The PRMA intends to provide a legal framework that allows the Secretary of State (SoS) to make product regulations concerning product safety requirements in the UK, since on Dec. 31, 2020, the UK left the European Union, and the EU product safety regulation no longer applies within Great Britain, England, Wales, and Scotland.

Therefore, the PRMA aims to harmonize product safety standards where needed, across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where EU product safety requirements are still applicable in the latter country, to reduce or mitigate any risks entailed by product usage and any environmental impact of products. It also aims to prevent unsafe products from entering the UK market and control any product-specific marketing claims made via online marketplaces. 

This Act essentially lays the groundwork for further product-specific regulations to be enforced that ensure consumers are provided with relevant safety information and that sellers ultimately comply with product safety obligations. For example, the UK market has seen an increase in safety incidents involving non-compliant e-bikes and e-scooters, i.e. that do not display the UKCA mark.

Product safety requirements made under this Act apply to any product marketed or used in the UK, excluding those listed under the Schedule of the Act, including for example, food, feeding stuff and fertilisers, plants and plant protection products, animals by-products or products of animal origin, aircraft and related components, military equipment, medicines and medical devices.

Regulatory safety requirements made pursuant to this Act, may typically, address specifically the following areas of concern:

• the production, components (whether tangible or intangible), composition or other technical characteristics of products;
• the installation of products;
• the use of products;
• the marking of products;
• the marketing of products through an online marketplace;
• the provision of information, including information about risk, in relation to products to:

1. persons to whom products are marketed or who use products in the United Kingdom;
2. persons mentioned in subsection (3) of the Act, including, for example, the manufacturer, the supplier or importer, as well as a person carrying out the verification or certification of a product, installer or any person who controls the online marketing of the product, as well as any intermediary who controls such access or product claim information made available online;
3. relevant authorities;

• the making of statements about products;
• the monitoring, assessment, verification or certification of products;
• the recording or investigating of complaints;
• the production or retention of documents or samples;
• co-operation with relevant authorities;
• the appointment of authorised representatives.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards received throughout 2024, at least 211 fire incident reports involving products that don’t meet safety rules. It was found that most of these incidents were reported by the London Fire Brigade, and a large number originated from unsafe lithium-ion batteries purchased online.

The PRMA, section 5, provides for the applicable metrology regulations that the SoS may make concerning the provision of units of measurement that are to be used to express quantities of goods or other things and how these units should be calculated, determined, or referred to. The SoS may not make regulations under this section to prevent or restrict the use of pint in the marketing of draught beer or cider, or milk in returnable containers.

Recommended action items

• Manufacturers, importers or those responsible for placing products under the scope of the PRMA should ensure product safety requirements are met, by ensuring UKCA mark is provided on products.
• Those responsible for placing products on the market within the UK or on online platforms must ensure all product claims are compliant with the regulations.

References

Product Regulation and Metrology Act

Office for Product Safety and Standards - GOV.UK 

My safety: e-bikes and e-scooters - GOV.UK