Regulatory Trends in Product Safety: 12–18 Month Outlook
This guide was published on 9th August, 2026. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.
A practical, 12–18 month roadmap for product safety teams who need to move fast, without losing control of compliance.
Regulatory Trends in Product Safety: 12–18 Month Outlook
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)
This Guide Covers
- The regulatory topics affecting product safety, banded by importance
- How Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety and the revised Product Liability Directive are reshaping accountability
- Where product safety meets the circular economy, and why circular products raise new safety and legal questions
- A world map of product safety regulatory density
- Key regulations expected to affect your business over the next 12-18 months
