Brexit will make it more difficult to stop faulty goods, said Which?

The Brexit threatens to disrupt the system designed to combat defective and dangerous consumer goods, warned a British campaign group by revealing that the number of complaints in Europe had risen by a third over the last decade.

Which? stated that, in 2018, 2,064 warnings had been sent to the European Safety Gate warning system for non-food products threatening consumers, compared with 1,542 in 2008.

The group stated that consumer protection systems are "poorly equipped" to handle such a volume of hazardous products.

Defective toys and cars accounted for more than half of safety warnings, with clothing, electrical applications and cosmetics accounting for nearly one-quarter of problem products. A fire or electric shock hazard and choking hazards have been identified as problems with many products, ranging from laptop batteries to Star Wars children's flammable suits.

The higher numbers may reflect a more rigorous relationship of faults, which one? That said, independent studies also show that recalls, particularly in the food and automotive industries, are on the rise across Europe.

Which? stated that the trade standardization authorities were already under pressure and that their work would become much more difficult if information sharing within the EU was disrupted as a result of Brexit. A spokesman for the Department of Business Affairs said that "the ongoing data exchange with the EU on dangerous products remain subject to negotiation".

Caroline Normand, Advocacy Director at Which?, Said: "If we want to make people's security the number one priority, the government needs to ensure access to European warning and surveillance systems. sharing information after the Brexit, as well as introduce major national reforms consumers are properly protected from dangerous products. "

She called on the Office of Product Safety and Standards, which is part of the business department, to create an independent body and prepare for a potentially more complex trading environment once the UK leaves the United States. ; EU.

The OPSS was established in 2018 to identify risks for consumers and manage large-scale product recalls.

The spokesman of the business department insisted that "the government's top priority is to protect people", which is why it has set up the "OPSS" to identify and manage risks for the consumer".

"Whatever the result [of Brexit negotiations], the product security database created by OPSS will allow regulators to access and share data securely and efficiently, "said the spokesperson.

"The database will give the commercial standards [agencies] mutual access to information on compliance issues, improved quality of information and application of the product safety regulatory system in the UK ".