Regulatory Trends in Product Safety: a 12-18 Month Outlook
This blog was originally posted on 1st February, 2023 and was updated on 23rd September, 2025. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.
A 12-18 month outlook for regulatory trends in Product Safety
Recent times have seen a rapid evolution of rules globally, upending traditional notions of safety. Lawmakers are now addressing emerging risks associated with enhanced features such as connectivity and artificial intelligence, coupled with new selling models, most notably the rise in e-commerce. In turn, product liability rules are also undergoing reform to offer optimal consumer protection in the digital age. The intersection between product safety and the circular economy is fast demanding attention, along with the major potential in leveraging digital tools—such as the Digital Product Passport (DPP)— to build consumer trust. And with regulators enhancing their enforcement powers, companies face an era of heightened compliance complexity.
(Source: C2P by Adherent)
The figure above shows a 1087% increase in regulations for product safety since 2019, with 6,633 regulations in place by 2026 (and counting!)
Hot Topics in Product Safety
Here’s a bird’s-eye view of the regulatory topics you need to be aware to get your product on the market and keep it there:
Sustainable Products in the Spotlight
The EU’s landmark Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is now in force with expanded sustainability considerations for a wider variety of products.
This Regulation sets a new standard for product sustainability, and will increase the number of products re-entering the market through circular business models (CBMs).
While the ESPR will lead to a rise in CBM practices as intended, this could lead to new safety issues, and consequently new legal challenges, soon emerging. Ultimately for the circular economy to scale, consumers must be able to trust that circular products are just as safe as new ones.
(Source: C2P by Adherent)
Top Regulatory Trends in Product Safety
Listed below are the key regulations that will be impacting your business over the next 12-18 months:
- EU: General Product Safety, Regulation (EU) 2023/988
- EU: Liability for Defective Products, Directive (EU) 2024/2853
- EU: Single Market for Digital Services, Regulation (EU) 2022/2065
- EU: Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU, Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (LVE), Directive 2014/35/EU and Others – Proposed Amendment – (on digitalisation and common specifications) Draft Directive, May 2025
- UK: Making Use of Recognition of EU Requirements to Place Products on the GB Market, Guidance Document, February 2025
- UK: Product Regulation and Metrology Act, 2025
- UK: Proposal for a New Product Safety Framework, Consultation Document, March 2026
- USA: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), 2008, Certificate of Compliance – Issuing Entity and Electronic Filing, Rule, 16 CFR 1110 – Amendment – (on certificates of compliance, testing and labeling) Rule, 90 FR 1800, January 2025
- China: Administration of Product Quality Supervision and Spot Checks, Draft Measures, July 2026
- UN: Principles for Consumer Product Safety, Resolution, December 2025
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