UK Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025: what applies now and what online sellers are still waiting for

Lüdenscheid, Germany, 30 September 2026 - The UK's Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, is in use, but not yet for the part that matters most to online marketplaces and sellers. SOMUVA UG (haftungsbeschränkt), an online retailer in Lüdenscheid, sets out the position for marketplace operators, importers and EU-based sellers supplying Great Britain.

A framework of powers, not a rulebook

Section 1 allows the Secretary of State to make "product regulations" to reduce or mitigate risks presented by products, to ensure that products operate efficiently or effectively, and that weighing and measuring products operate accurately. The Schedule excludes, among others, food, medicines, medical devices and military equipment. Section 2 lists what such regulations may cover, from marking and product information to the retention of documents and the appointment of authorised representatives. Under section 3, regulations may create criminal offences, capped at two years' imprisonment on conviction on indictment, and may give authorities power to impose civil sanctions, including fines. Before making regulations, the Secretary of State must consult (section 13(6)).

Most of the Act came into force on Royal Assent (section 15(2)), but section 11(1) and (3) awaits a commencement order. Once commenced, it will repeal Parts 2 and 4 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and several provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. For now, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 remain the core safety law in Great Britain, while the EU's General Product Safety Regulation applies in Northern Ireland.

Online marketplaces: powers in place, duties still to come

Section 2(2)(e) allows requirements on "the marketing of products through an online marketplace". Section 2(3)(e) allows duties on anyone who controls access to, or the contents of, an online marketplace, or acts as their intermediary. The first regulations using either power need approval in draft by both Houses of Parliament (section 13(3) and (4)).

The statutory instruments made under the Act that legislation.gov.uk shows on 30 September 2026 deal with noise from outdoor equipment, conformity assessment bodies under the UK-India trade agreement, ecodesign and machinery. None of them uses the online marketplace powers; the machinery regulations of 22 July 2026 expressly exclude them.

The direction of travel is set out in the consultation "Product regulation: the UK's new product safety framework", which ran from 31 March to 23 June 2026. It proposes duties for three groups: producers, "onward suppliers" (including fulfilment service providers) and online marketplaces. Marketplaces would have to act with due care to prevent, identify and remove non-compliant products, exercise due diligence to identify and act against non-compliant sellers, and verify seller contact details. Online listings by business sellers would have to show the seller's and, if different, the producer's name and contact details, a product identifier and images, the warnings required on the product or its packaging, and compliance markings. Where there is no UK-established manufacturer or authorised representative and no importer, an overseas seller making a distance sale would count as the producer. A UK-based responsible person is suggested only for some high-risk products.

A companion consultation on enforcement proposes civil monetary penalties as an alternative to criminal prosecution. On 31 March 2026, the government also said it would legislate to allow the UKCA marking and importer details to be provided in different physical formats, as well as digitally. The consultation document promised a response within 12 weeks of the closing date; on 30 September 2026, the GOV.UK page still stated that feedback was being analysed.

EU law and CE marking

Section 2(7) allows regulations to treat a UK requirement as met where a specified EU requirement is met. The power has been used: the Ecodesign amendment regulations (SI 2026/750), in force since 27 July 2026, extend recognition of CE marking in Great Britain to energy-related products regulated under the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The machinery regulations (SI 2026/867), which take effect on 20 January 2027, allow machinery that meets the relevant requirements of EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 to be placed on the market in Great Britain. For the product areas covered by the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024, CE marking remains recognised alongside UKCA.

For EU sellers, existing sector regulations therefore still decide which marking, documentation and economic operators are required; under GOV.UK guidance, an importer is established in the UK.

"The Act is a set of powers rather than a list of obligations," said Mustafa Celik, managing director of SOMUVA UG (haftungsbeschränkt). "For businesses selling into Great Britain from the EU, the decisive text will be the first regulations that use the online marketplace powers, which Parliament must approve expressly. Until then, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the existing sector rules remain the reference point; the consultation proposals show only the likely direction."

About SOMUVA UG

SOMUVA UG (haftungsbeschränkt), based in Lüdenscheid, Germany (Iserlohn Local Court, HRB 11627), runs the online retailer Vapechamp (https://vapechamp.de).

Notes to editors / press contact

SOMUVA UG (haftungsbeschränkt) Karlstraße 4 58507 Lüdenscheid Germany Contact: Mustafa Celik (Managing Director) E-mail: kontakt@vapechamp.de Phone: +49 176 84749993 Web: https://vapechamp.de

Sources

• Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, introductory text (Royal Assent 21 July 2025) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/introduction/enacted
• PRMA 2025, section 1 (product regulations, risk, definitions) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/1
• PRMA 2025, section 2 (product requirements, online marketplaces, EU law, s.2(7)/(8)) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/2
• PRMA 2025, section 3 (enforcement, sanctions, s.3(9), s.3(11)) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/3
• PRMA 2025, section 11 (consequential amendments; s.11(1)(3) not in force) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/11
• PRMA 2025, section 13 (affirmative procedure for first marketplace provisions, duty to consult) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/13
• PRMA 2025, section 15 (commencement) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/section/15
• PRMA 2025, contents and Schedule (excluded products) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/20/contents
• SI 2025/1073, Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment and Transitional) Regulations 2025 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1073/introduction/made
• SI 2026/40, Treatment of Conformity Assessment Bodies (UK-India CETA) Regulations 2026 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/40/introduction/made
• SI 2026/750, Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (made 3 July 2026, in force 27 July 2026; explanatory note) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/750/note/made
• SI 2026/867, Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment etc.) and the EU Machinery Regulation (Enforcement etc. in Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 (made 22 July 2026, in force 20 January 2027; enabling powers exclude s.2(2)(e), (3)(e), (3)(i)) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/867/introduction/made
• legislation.gov.uk full-text search for instruments citing the Act (30.09.2026: SI 2025/1073, 2026/40, 2026/750, 2026/867; no draft SI using s.2(2)(e)/(3)(e)) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/all?text=%22Product%20Regulation%20and%20Metrology%20Act%202025%22
• DBT consultation "Product regulation: the UK's new product safety framework" (31 March - 23 June 2026; status "We are analysing your feedback") - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/product-regulation-the-uks-new-product-safety-framework
• Consultation document (proposals A7-A13, next steps: response within 12 weeks) - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/product-regulation-the-uks-new-product-safety-framework/the-uks-new-product-safety-framework
• DBT consultation "Product regulation: market surveillance and enforcement framework" (civil monetary penalties) - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/product-regulation-market-surveillance-and-enforcement-framework
• DBT press release, 31 March 2026 (three consultations; digital labelling legislation) - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-updates-to-product-safety-laws-to-ensure-theyre-fit-for-the-modern-age
• DBT press release, 21 July 2025 (online marketplace requirements "at the earliest opportunity") - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tough-new-laws-to-make-online-marketplaces-safer
• Policy paper "Product safety and metrology regulatory changes: UKCA and CE regimes" (2024 Regulations in force 1 October 2024; 21 product areas) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/product-safety-and-metrology-regulatory-changes-ukca-and-ce-regimes/product-safety-and-metrology-regulatory-changes-ukca-and-ce-regimes
• Guidance "Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great Britain" (CE recognition; importer definition) - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-ukca-or-ce-marked-products-on-the-market-in-great-britain