Why the UK's product recall system needs to be overhauled

The product recall system in the UK is riddled with problems, according to a new report. Here's why and what we can do about it.

If we don’t urgently review the country’s product recall system lives could be at risk, according to consumer group Which?.

It wants the Government to set up a national body to take control of dangerous products as they arise and get faulty items out of people’s homes quicker.

“The product safety system simply isn’t fit-for-purpose and its over reliance on a local approach to a national problem poses grave risks to consumers,” says Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?.

“The Government must now take urgent action and create a new national body that has all the tools it needs to get unsafe products out of people’s homes.”

How product recalls work

A product recall occurs when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to it due to a safety issue.

Recalls can occur in a variety of retail areas from food to cars to toys.

Any product that is the subject of a recall shouldn’t be used or consumed and should be returned to the retailer or manufacturer.

If a product has been recalled you shouldn’t need to have your receipt when you return it.

What’s the problem?

However, finding out about a dangerous item you may have in your home is a bit hit and miss, as there is no central source of information for shoppers on current product recalls.

Most firms will list recalls on their websites (Ikea for example has a dedicated Product Recalls section) and in some cases customers will get a letter or an email if they have registered their details.

“When something does go wrong, there is currently no simple way for consumers to find out about it,” explains the Which? report.

“The number of sites available causes confusion and means that consumers can easily miss important recall information, or fail to appreciate its importance."

Another problem is the fact that recalls tend to be dealt with on a local rather than a national level.

The Which? report also criticises the current system for having too “heavy reliance on companies to ensure compliance” and says there simply isn’t enough Government enforcement.

Recent high-profile product recalls

The most high-profile product recall most of us have heard about came last year when Samsung recalled all of its 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones. A battery problem was causing some phones to overheat and catch on fire.

Ikea faced criticism in 2016 when it recalled 36 million Malm chests of drawers in the US after the furniture fell over and killed children in six separate incidents. But the store hasn’t recalled the same chest of drawers that has been on sale for years in the UK.

Most recently, Primark has recalled thousands of pairs of men’s flip-flops after discovering they contain a carcinogenic chemical. It has recalled the black, blue and khaki flip flops from its Cedar Wood State range.

While Whirlpool is embroiled in a scandal as it continues to resist calls to recall over five million tumble dryers that are believed to pose a fire risk.

What can be done?

Which? has called for an overhaul of the product recall system in the UK.

It suggests we need "one single, reliable and well-publicised site that is an authoritative source of information and advice.”

What do you think? Have you got any experience of product recalls? How did you find out about it? Let us know in the comment box below.

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