A-Z Product Safety Guide Helps UK Makers Sell Confidently
The UK government's product-safety A-Z on GOV.UK is a practical, authoritative reference for makers, craft sellers and small creative businesses preparing to sell to consumers. It clarifies when the General Product Safety Regulations apply, sets out basic responsibilities and record-keeping, and points makers to sector-specific testing or marking rules for items such as toys, electrical goods and furniture.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards maintains an A-Z product-safety resource on GOV.UK that serves as a clear starting point for makers selling at markets, online or wholesale. The guidance explains when the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) apply and links to detailed sector guidance and technical rules that affect everyday craft products.
If no specific mandatory standard applies to a product, the GPSR still requires that the product is safe for foreseeable use. Check the A-Z to confirm whether your product falls under a sector-specific rule that imposes additional testing or marking requirements, for example for toys, electrical items or furniture. The A-Z brings those issues together so you can spot when simple extra steps are needed before you offer an item for sale.
Practical responsibilities for makers are set out plainly. Keep clear records and invoices to show traceability back to suppliers. Prepare basic technical documentation and carry out a simple risk assessment for foreseeable use. These steps help demonstrate compliance if a safety question arises and make it easier to respond quickly to customer concerns or a regulator request.
The resource also explains the distinct responsibilities of producers and distributors, helping you identify whether you are legally the producer, importer or retailer for a given sale and what each role must do. That matters not only for compliance but for managing liability, product recalls and customer safety information.
Selling cross-border adds an extra layer: the A-Z notes relevance to businesses trading into the EU and Northern Ireland, where the EU GPSR also applies. Check the linked pages that reproduce the GPSR text and sector-specific advice so you understand how UK and EU rules might both affect the same product.
Use the A-Z on GOV.UK as a checklist before you list items for sale: confirm whether specific rules apply, keep traceable records, prepare simple technical documentation and document a basic risk assessment. The GOV.UK A-Z product-safety pages bring the legal requirements into practical terms for makers and small creative businesses, helping you sell with confidence and reduce the risk of non-compliance. The resource is online at gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidance
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