Proposed changes to product safety laws will bring new risks for producers, writes John Doherty
- Explains the importance of product safety and consumer protection to the new government, and sets out the aims of the proposed Product Regulation and Metrology Bill.
- Analyses the implications of the new Bill in relation to the liability risks undertaken by AI businesses and their insurers.
In July 2024, the King’s Speech set out a raft of legislative proposals from the new Labour government. Of these, the proposed Product Regulation and Metrology Bill made the cut, reflecting the importance of product safety and consumer protection to the new government. Born of the government’s desire to be seen as taking a balanced approach to regulation in this area, it is styled as a Bill that will ‘preserve the UK’s status as a global leader in product regulation, supporting businesses and protecting consumers,’ as per Lord Leong on second reading, (8 October 2024, Lords Hansard, volume 839, col 1938).
In this dual goal vein, the Bill is intended to provide for a pragmatic response
