Resources

This email contains information on the following:

Product Safety: Update to asbestos resources; OPSS’ Safe vape usage and disposal awareness campaign
Construction Products: Construction Products Reform White Paper and general safety requirement for construction products consultations; Operation Dogwood
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Wider Updates: Business Reference Panel; Building LA capability training sessions
Dates to note

OPSS hosted the online Business Reference Panel on 4 March. The agenda included items on innovative product regulation and ai enabled products; preparations for consultation on the core product safety framework; and regulation of online market places and protection of intellectual property rights on e-commerce platforms.

A detailed summary of the arrangements in place to make notifications outside the UK, but the initial obligation is on a business to meet its overseas notification obligations.

This email contains information on the following:

Product Safety: Asbestos in play sand local authority briefing: feedback, recording and other resources; Call for Evidence on machinery safety; forward look: disposal of vapes consumer awareness campaign; feasibility of collecting accident data relating to consumer products from the NHS

Legal Metrology: Consultation outcome - measuring instruments display requirements for energy smart appliances (ESAs)
Construction Products: Consultation now open – Construction Products Reform White Paper; Consultation now open – General Safety Requirement for Construction Products
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Wider Updates: Building LA capability training sessions; Regulators’ Companion LA training recordings
Dates to Note

Information for Heads of Service relating to new resources on asbestos

A recording of and the slides used during the OPSS Online Briefing for LAs on Asbestos in Play Sand on Tuesday 24 February 2026.

(Note: this guidance applies to CURRENT products and will be superseded by the Environment Protection (Single Use Vapes) Regulations which come into effect on the 1st June 2025)

This email contains information on the following:

Important Notice: Local Authority online briefing on products containing asbestos and further recall
Product Safety: Designated standards – toy safety; 2024/25 Product Safety Sampling Protocol publication; Post Implementation review of the Energy Information (lighting) legislation – GB only
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Wider Updates: Building LA capability training sessions; Regulators’ Companion LA training recordings
Dates to Note

This email contains information on the following:

Important notice: Local Authority online briefing on products containing asbestos, and new recalls
Product Safety: Product Safety Sampling Protocol and the Product Safety Database; 2024/25 Product Safety Sampling Protocol publication; forward look – next phase for Online Marketplaces consumer awareness campaign
Primary Authority: Updates on partnerships within the tobacco industry; businesses seeking Primary Authority
Construction Products: Understanding your Declaration of Performance obligations for the GB market
Wider Updates: Building LA capability training sessions  
Dates to Note

This email contains information on the following:
Product Safety: Hobbycraft play sand recall - update; Product Safety Database (PSD) update; publication of report on non-compliant and unsafe balloons; reminder of product safety alerts for baby sleep pillows and heat pump tumble dryers
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Construction Products: Product Information Packs (PIPs) new location on Regulators’ Companion
Wider Updates: Building LA capability training sessions
Dates to Note

An introduction from the Tyre Industry Federation to applicable regulations in England and Wales.

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) guidance on identifying and naming substances.

Database of type examination and type approval metrology equipment certificates.

This guidance outlines how retailers can source, sell and dispose of vapes (otherwise known as e-cigarettes) responsibly.

Things to consider when buying and using products.

This email contains information on the following:
Product Safety: Information for enforcing authorities regarding dried decorative seeds; Hobbycraft play sand recall; designated standards amendment proposals – toys; notice of publication – designated standards for lifts and radio equipment; updates to GOV.UK ecodesign of energy-consuming products webpage
Legal Metrology: Request for information: non-approved beer measuring instruments
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Wider Updates: British Standards Online; building LA capability training sessions
Dates to note

This email contains information on the following:

Product Safety: designated standards amendment proposals – toys; notice of publication – designated standards for lifts and radio equipment
Primary Authority: businesses seeking Primary Authority partnerships
Wider Updates: building LA capability training sessions  
Dates to note

The role and responsibilities of the Single point of contact (SPOC) and the Tobacco Products Expert Panel, together with its members and participants.

This email contains information on the following:

Product Safety: Product Safety Database (PSD) design enhancements; OPSS Smart connected products safety campaign; Baby sleep pillow Product Safety Alert
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority
Construction Products: Single Construction Regulator Prospectus Consultation
Wider Updates: GOV.UK Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls website; Quarterly Live Briefing LA feedback questionnaire; Building LA Capability Training Sessions; Heads of Service email distribution list
Dates to note

This email contains information on the following:

Product Safety: OPSS Smart connected products safety campaign; Urgent Safety Notice: Action Required for Haier Heat Pump Tumble Dryers; Baby sleep pillow Product Safety Alert; Designated standards amendment proposals – lifts and radio equipment
Primary Authority: Businesses seeking Primary Authority partnerships
Construction Products: Construction Products Product Information Packs (PIPS); Single Construction Regulator Prospectus Consultation
Wider Updates: Quarterly Live Briefing resources; Quarterly Live Briefing LA feedback questionnaire; Building LA Capability Training Sessions; Heads of Service email distribution list
Dates to note

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute share a brief update on vapes and the next steps.