Our UK friends seem determined to leave Europe with the only sticking point how chaotic they want this to be. Now, consumer group Which? is warning they will also lose their protective umbrella of information sharing. Thus, a UK gadget crisis could develop rapidly when these ‘early warning systems’ for unsafe products cease. Alarmingly, Britain appears slow in arranging another highway to the information.
A Potential UK Gadget Crisis Merits Urgent Attention
Therefore, the government must urgently secure access to the European systems after Brexit. So says Caroline Normand, director of advocacy at Which? “If it wants to make people’s safety the number one priority,” she emphasizes. “As well as introduce major domestic reforms.”
European Union ‘Safety Gate’ System – Do Watch
“It’s essential to ensure consumers are properly protected from unsafe products,” she added in a statement. We add especially those with button batteries. In 2018, the European Commission flagged 2064 dangerous non-food products on the market. This was up a third from ten years previously. The most worrisome safety alerts were for toys (655) and motor vehicles (419). There were a further 176 for electrical appliances.
What Types of Problems Could Slip Though the Net
Quite serious ones could slip through during a UK gadget crisis if history repeats, which it often does. This year Which? reported Honda car models with explosive airbags, and a flammable child’s Storm Trooper costume. These and the HP laptop batteries that posed a fire risk have already been recalled.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy assured Which? they have the matter in hand. “The Government’s top priority is to keep people safe,” they promised. “This is why we established a specialist government body, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, in January 2018. Its remit includes identifying and managing consumer risks.”
We are pleased to know there has at least been some good progress, and hope any remaining gaps close soon.
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Video Link: European Union ‘Safety Gate’ System
