It’s going to start getting harder for dodgy traders to sell untested motorcycle kit
A new UK law aims to stamp out unsafe products sold online by giving regulators more power to act fast and keep consumers protected.
New rules to clean up shady online marketplaces and keep consumers safe have been welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), as the UK government takes a firmer grip on modern product safety laws.
With the rise of online shopping bringing convenience and, in some cases, risk in equal measure, there has been a long-standing concern about the safety of some of the gear bought through third-party sellers. Now, the new Product Regulation and Metrology Act, which has just received Royal Assent, gives the government sharper tools to tackle unsafe or misleading products sold both on the high street and, crucially, online.
The Act gives officials the ability to react quicker to emerging risks, think sketchy e-scooter batteries, suspiciously cheap helmets, or knock-off smart gadgets, by allowing for faster updates to safety legislation and more direct oversight of online marketplaces. The upshot? It's harder for dodgy dealers flogging substandard or dangerous kit to slip through the cracks.
RoSPA, the UK’s leading accident prevention charity, says the new law is a big win for public safety.
“We are delighted to see this important legislation become law,” said Adrian Simpson, RoSPA’s Head of Policy. “At RoSPA, we believe that strong, responsive regulation is essential to preventing accidents and protecting families.”
Whether it’s fake chargers, sub-par tools or even low-quality protective gear (yes, that includes the kind of motorcycle kit you might find listed on questionable online platforms), the new rules mean regulators will have more muscle to crack down on sellers before their products end up causing harm.
Until now, online marketplaces and social media channels haven’t always been held to the same standards as traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. That causes an issue for buyers, especially those who have ever added something to their basket and wondered if it was too good (or cheap) to be true. With the Product Regulation and Metrology Act now in place, that gap is being closed.
Baroness Crawley of Edgbaston, Vice President of RoSPA, said the Act is a much-needed update to the UK’s safety framework:
“It empowers regulators to act swiftly and decisively in the public interest, while also supporting innovation and clarity for businesses.”
For bikers and anyone else who shops online for tools, accessories, or safety kit, it could be a crucial step towards ensuring what’s listed is what’s promised, and that it won’t land you in A&E or worse.
RoSPA has confirmed it will keep working with policymakers and industry to make sure the new rules are applied effectively and efficiently, and that public safety stays at the top of the agenda.
It’s a timely move in a world where more and more of what we buy comes with a click and a courier and not a trip to the shops. And for riders, tradespeople and families alike, that means one less thing to worry about when browsing the digital shelves.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
