Skip to content

All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated.

To view this licence, visit:
https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3

or write to:
Information Policy Team,
The National Archives,
Kew,
London TW9 4DU

or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

This publication is available at:
https://lawcom.gov.uk.

© Crown copyright

Law Commission to review the law relating to product liability

Published:

Reviewing the law relating to liability for defective products.

The Law Commission will be reviewing the law relating to the product liability regime set out in the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

The regime was intended to give consumers a straightforward route to claiming compensation for certain harms caused by defective products.

However it has been nearly 40 years since the introduction of the product liability regime, and since then the range of available products – particularly in the context of digital technology – has developed significantly. The product liability regime has not kept pace with those developments.  

This project will consider issues with the operation of the existing product liability regime, particularly in light of emerging technologies, to determine what law reform might be required to ensure the product liability regime is fit for purpose. Such a review will help determine and, if necessary, correct the balance between protecting people from harm and supporting industry. It would also provide increased certainty regarding managing harm caused by products, especially in the digital age.

We are interested in hearing from stakeholders with views about what the project should focus on and issues with the current product liability regime.

Visit the product liability project page to find out more.