Consumer Protection FAQs

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CONSUMER PROTECTION

What is Consumer Protection?

What should I do if I have bought an unsafe product?

 

What is Consumer Protection?

Consumer Protection involves ensuring all goods on sale to the public are SAFE for their intended use.

The responsibility to supply safe consumer goods applies all the way down from the manufacturer to the retailer.  This means, that products being sold should comply with any relevant legislation or recognised safety standard.

The main pieces of legislation dealing with the safety of consumer goods are:

  • The Consumer Protection Act 1987              
  • The General Product Safety Regulations 2005

These cover most goods.  However, there are some exceptions such as cars and medicinal products.

In addition to these pieces of legislation, there are over 60 specific regulations and hundreds of recognised safety standards covering product safety.  These include:

  • toys
  • bicycles
  • electrical equipment
  • furniture
  • tyres
  • cosmetics
  • nightwear
  • hoodcords
  • pushchairs
  • babies’ dummies.

What should I do if I have bought an unsafe product?

Contact the Environmental Health Unit who will investigate the complaint.

The Officer may wish to examine the product.  It will be useful if you still have the receipt or proof of purchase.

The product or similar products may be sent for testing.

The complaints procedure may take several months to complete.  Any subsequent action taken by the Environmental Health Officer will relate to Consumer Protection and safety issues and not to attaining compensation for the complainant.  This is a matter that can be dealt with through your own Solicitor.

UNSAFE PRODUCTS CAN CAUSE INJURIES AND CAN EVEN KILL!!!!