Product safety guidance

What are your businesses product safety obligations?

If you place products on the Irish market, you have legal responsibilities to make sure those products are safe.

Product safety law applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and online sellers. It covers a wide range of consumer products and applies throughout the product’s lifecycle, from design and manufacture to sale and beyond.

What are your main obligations?

In general, businesses must:

• Only supply safe and compliant products. Products must be safe when used normally or in any way that can reasonably be expected and must meet applicable legal requirements.
• Understand your role in the supply chain. Your responsibilities depend on whether you manufacture, import, distribute or sell products, including online.
• Provide clear information and warnings
  Consumers must have the information they need to use products safely.
• Monitor product safety
  You should have systems to identify risks, and monitor complaints or incidents.
• Act quickly if a product is unsafe
  If you become aware of a safety issue, you must take corrective action and notify the CCPC without delay
  

Does this apply to online sales?

Product safety obligations also apply to products sold online. Businesses selling to consumers in Ireland must ensure products meet product safety requirements, regardless of where the seller is based.

What happens if products are unsafe?

Failure to meet your obligations may lead to enforcement action, including product recalls. 

Businesses should always refer to the relevant legislation and detailed guidance to understand their complete responsibilities.

Does my product need a CE mark?

The CE mark on a product is an indication that the product meets the essential safety requirements of harmonised product safety legislation.

The CE mark should only be affixed to products in compliance with harmonised product safety legislation, which includes the Toys Safety Regulations, the PPE Regulations, the Low Voltage Regulations and the Gas Appliances Regulations. You can learn more in our CE mark section.

What obligation do businesses have when importing products?

The CCPC provides guidance is for businesses when importing products into the EU from countries outside the EU (including GB). You can learn more in our guidance on importing production section.

What should you do if you have sold an unsafe product? 

Below you will find guidance from the CCPC on what to do if you have sold an unsafe product and how to conduct a recall.