Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government why discussions have been held with major online marketplaces on how to tackle unsafe products, such as toys, being sold via third-party sellers in the UK.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Ministers in this Department held a roundtable meeting with a number of online marketplaces on 24th April, demanding they take more action to keep unsafe products off their platforms. In addition, through the Office for Product Safety and Standards, government speaks regularly and directly to online marketplaces to tackle the availability of non-compliant products sold online, requiring recalls and takedowns and, where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers.
Additionally, the Government will shortly publish a consultation on the Product Safety Review which makes proposals for a more agile approach to deal with the changing world of commerce including online sales.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to widen the powers of the Office of Product Safety and Standards so it can issue legally binding obligations for online marketplaces to monitor the safety of products offered for sale on their websites.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Existing product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure that consumer products are safe before they are placed on the UK market, including products sold online. This legislation also provides the necessary powers to hold manufacturers, importers and distributors to account in exercising their responsibilities.
The government’s Product Safety Review is considering concerns about the sale of unsafe products online, and a consultation, including proposals to examine existing enforcement powers, is being finalised for publication.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Office of Product Safety and Standards's powers to take enforcement action against online marketplaces on behalf of consumers.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Existing product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure that consumer products are safe before they are placed on the UK market, including products sold online. This legislation also provides the necessary powers to hold manufacturers, importers and distributors to account in exercising their responsibilities.
The government’s Product Safety Review is considering concerns about the sale of unsafe products online, and a consultation, including proposals to examine existing enforcement powers, is being finalised for publication.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made (1) of the UK's ability to govern the safety of toys entering the UK marketplace, and (2) the upholding of UK consumer protections, during trade agreement negotiations.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK’s product safety regulatory framework, as regulated by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, provides a high level of protection to consumers. Any trade negotiations seek to achieve growth in the economy while also ensuring the safety of UK consumers.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Office for Product Safety and Standards will publish its Product Safety Review.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Product Safety Review consultation is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to limit the number of dangerous toys sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unsafe products, such as toys, sold via third-party sellers in the UK.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Office of Product Safety and Standards regarding the number of unsafe products, such as toys, sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for making online marketplaces jointly and severally liable for products sold via their platforms.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.