Business Companion launches invaluable free product safety guide
Business Companion, recognizing the growing challenges faced by businesses involved in the manufacturing, importing, sales or distribution of products in the UK, has taken a proactive step to address the issue of product safety.
The launch of a new information guide, Providing safe products for the UK marketplace: Guidance for businesses on PAS 7050, aims to offer valuable insights and promote best practices in navigating the complex marketplace and supply chain.
In light of the concerning rise in the availability of unsafe goods in the UK, this guide is a timely resource for businesses seeking to enhance their understanding of product safety requirements. It is the latest in the Business Companion ‘Business in Focus’ series, a free online resource for businesses in need of accurate, reliable and up-to-date guidance on a wide range of issues.
The guide focuses on the PAS 7050 code of practice, which provides a set of recommendations about bringing safe products to market. PAS 7050 was developed in response to concerns that some products available for sale in the UK do not meet safety requirements and that certain businesses are failing to implement processes which could keep their customers safe, thereby putting themselves and their reputations at risk.
While most businesses strive to offer safe products to their consumers, occasional oversights or errors in processes can lead to unintended consequences. It is crucial for all businesses involved in the production or sale of goods to adhere to strict practices that minimize any potential harm to consumers. And in the event that a product safety issue arises, businesses need to take swift action, so having a well-thought-out plan is essential.
Providing safe products for the UK marketplace contains background information about the key points of the code of practice, with sections devoted to specific types of business model, including sellers of goods on online marketplaces, repairers and refurbishers of goods, and second-hand sellers. Links to further resources, including checklists for each of these business types, are also included.
The guide also contains an example of a product safety incident plan (PSIP) that businesses can adapt to their own requirements.
Product safety expert Geraldine Cosh, who was part of the team that created PAS 7050 and author of the Providing safe products for the UK marketplace guide, said: “Whatever size your business is, if you’re doing the right thing and you’re doing it well, this guide can be a really good way of confirming that. But you need to document that, so you have the evidence that you’re getting things right. This guide is a really good starting point to help you ensure that you’re doing the right thing.
“Sometimes understanding product safety requirements can be overwhelming, and PAS 7050 really helps with demystifying that.”
To accompany the Business in Focus guide, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has also published a short video featuring Geraldine Cosh and product safety expert Mark Gardiner, who also contributed to PAS 7050. In the video, they discuss the key points of the code of practice and explain why it is so important for consumers and businesses alike that the products we buy and use are safe. Geraldine and Mark have also been conducting a series of webinars in which they discuss PAS 7050 in more detail.
Whatever your business does, product safety should be at the top of its agenda. To help make sure you are avoiding costly and potentially deadly mistakes, visit businesscompanion.info today to download the guide.
About Business Companion
Business Companion is a free online resource produced by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) on behalf of the Department for Trade.
The content on Business Companion is written and verified by expert contributors, but is not designed to be a replacement for professional advice and is intended only for guidance. Only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.
Business Companion covers Trading Standards law for England, Scotland and Wales. For guidance on the law in Northern Ireland, please see nibusinessinfo.co.uk.
