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Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025

2025 CHAPTER 20

An Act to make provision about the marketing or use of products in the United Kingdom; about units of measurement and the quantities in which goods are marketed in the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.

[21st July 2025]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Product regulation

1 Product regulations I1

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision, in relation to the marketing or use of products in the United Kingdom, for the purpose of—

(a)reducing or mitigating risks presented by products;

(b)ensuring that products operate efficiently or effectively;

(c)ensuring that products designed for weighing or measuring operate accurately.

(2)The Secretary of State may also by regulations make provision, in relation to the marketing or use of products in the United Kingdom, which corresponds, or is similar, to a provision of relevant EU law for the purpose of reducing or mitigating the environmental impact of products.

(3)But the Secretary of State may not make regulations under subsection (1) or (2) that relate to products listed in the Schedule.

(4)For the purposes of this Act, a product presents a risk if, when used for the purpose for which it is intended or under conditions which can reasonably be foreseen, it could—

(a)endanger the health or safety of persons,

(b)endanger the health or safety of domestic animals,

(c)endanger property (including the operability of other products), or

(d)cause, or be susceptible to, electromagnetic disturbance.

(5)The Secretary of State must publish a statement setting out how they expect to identify and assess risks presented by products for the purposes of this section.

(6)A statement published under subsection (5) may be amended or replaced from time to time.

(7)In this Act—

(8)Sections 2 to 4, 7 to 11 and 13 make further provision about the power conferred by this section.

(9) Regulations under this section are referred to in this Act as “ product regulations ”.

2 Product requirements I2

(1) Product regulations may make provision about requirements (“product requirements”) that must be met—

(a)in relation to products marketed or used in the United Kingdom;

(b)in order for products to be marketed or used in the United Kingdom.

(2)The regulations may include product requirements in relation to—

(a)the production, components (whether tangible or intangible), composition or other characteristics of products;

(b)the installation of products;

(c)the use of products;

(d)the marking of products;

(e)the marketing of products through an online marketplace;

(f)the provision of information (including information about risk) in relation to products to—

(i)persons to whom products are marketed or who use products in the United Kingdom;

(ii)persons mentioned in subsection (3);

(iii)relevant authorities;

(g)the making of statements about products;

(h)the monitoring, assessment, verification or certification of products;

(i)the recording or investigating of complaints;

(j)the production or retention of documents or samples;

(k)co-operation with relevant authorities;

(l)the appointment of authorised representatives.

(3)The persons on whom product regulations may impose product requirements include—

(a)a manufacturer of a product or a person carrying out another method of production in relation to a product;

(b)a person who markets a product in the United Kingdom;

(c)a person who imports a product into the United Kingdom for it to be marketed or used in the United Kingdom;

(d)a person who installs a product in the United Kingdom;

(e)a person who—

(i)controls access to an online marketplace,

(ii)controls the contents of an online marketplace, or

(iii)acts as an intermediary for a person who controls such access or contents;

(f)an authorised representative of a person mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e);

(g)a person carrying out monitoring, assessment, verification or certification of a product;

(h)a person carrying out activities in relation to the certification or accreditation of a person mentioned in paragraph (g);

(i)any other person carrying out activities in relation to a product.

(4)Product regulations may make provision for or in relation to technical standards relating to product requirements.

(5)Provision described in subsection (4) may include provision about—

(a)the persons who may prepare technical standards;

(b)the procedure by which, and persons by whom, technical standards may be prepared;

(c)the matters that must or may be covered by a technical standard.

(6)Product requirements may—

(a)refer to technical standards published by a person specified in the regulations (including standards as amended from time to time), and

(b)provide that meeting a particular technical standard creates a presumption of compliance with a particular product requirement.

(7)Product regulations may provide that a product requirement is to be treated as met if—

(a)a requirement of relevant EU law specified in product regulations is met, or

(b)such a requirement is met and conditions specified in the regulations are also met.

(8)Before making provision described in subsection (7), the Secretary of State must have regard to the social, environmental and economic impact of making the provision concerned.

(9) In this section, a reference to “intangible” components includes software.

3 Enforcement of product regulations I3

(1)Product regulations may designate one or more persons as a relevant authority.

(2)Product regulations may only designate a person under subsection (1) if the person exercises functions of a public nature.

(3)Product regulations may make provision conferring on a relevant authority one or more of the following functions—

(a)monitoring compliance with product regulations;

(b)investigating suspected non-compliance with product regulations;

(c)securing compliance with product regulations;

(d)mitigating the effect of non-compliance with product regulations.

(4)Product regulations may include provision—

(a)conferring power on a relevant authority to appoint inspectors to carry out functions under the regulations;

(b)conferring functions on a relevant authority or an inspector, including—

(i)power to enter, inspect and search premises;

(ii)power to seize and retain products or evidence of non-compliance with product regulations;

(iii)power to require a person to retain or provide a document or information;

(iv)power to dispose of a product or require a person to dispose of a product.

(5)Product regulations may not authorise entry into premises used wholly or mainly as a dwelling without a warrant issued by—

(a)in England and Wales, a justice of the peace;

(b)in Scotland, a sheriff, summary sheriff or a justice of the peace;

(c)in Northern Ireland, a lay magistrate.

(6)Provision described in subsection (3)(c) or (d) may include provision conferring power on a relevant authority by notice to require a person to do or cease to do something, including power to—

(a)require a person to warn others of risks presented by a product;

(b)require the marking of a product in respect of risks presented by it;

(c)prohibit the marketing or use of a product;

(d)require the recall of a product or its withdrawal from the market.

(7)Product regulations may make provision for or in connection with sanctions for—

(a)non-compliance with product regulations;

(b)non-compliance with a notice issued by a relevant authority under powers conferred by product regulations;

(c)obstruction of, or failure to assist or co-operate with, a relevant authority or an inspector;

(d)provision of false or misleading information to a relevant authority or an inspector.

(8)Product regulations may include—

(a)provision for a relevant authority to accept undertakings relating to compliance with product regulations instead of taking other action;

(b)provision for sanctions for non-compliance with such undertakings;

(c)provision for the forfeiture of products by court order (or, in Scotland, order of the sheriff).

(9)Provision described in subsection (7) or (8)(b) may include—

(a)provision creating, or widening the scope of, criminal offences;

(b)in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, provision for the prosecution by a relevant authority of criminal offences created or widened under paragraph (a);

(c)provision conferring power on a relevant authority to impose civil sanctions (including fines).

(10)Product regulations may make provision about appeals to a court or tribunal.

(11)Where product regulations contain provision creating a criminal offence, the provision must have the effect that—

(a)the offence is—

(i)triable summarily only, or

(ii)triable summarily or on indictment;

(b)a person guilty of the offence is liable on summary conviction—

(i)in England and Wales, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both;

(ii)in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both;

(c)a person guilty of the offence is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.

4 Emergencies I4

(1)Product regulations may provide for a provision in product regulations to be disapplied, or to apply with modifications, in cases of emergency.

(2)The disapplication or modification may be made subject to conditions.

Metrology

5 Metrology regulations I5

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the units of measurement that are used to express quantities (whether of goods or other things), including provision about—

(a)how units of measurement must or may be calculated or determined;

(b)how units of measurement must or may be referred to.

(2)The Secretary of State may also by regulations make provision about—

(a)the quantities in which goods must or may be marketed in the United Kingdom, and

(b)the units of measurement that must or may be used to express such quantities.

(3)Provision described in subsection (2) may include—

(a)requirements in relation to the marking or packaging of goods;

(b)requirements in relation to the monitoring, assessment and verification of the quantities in which goods are marketed in the United Kingdom and the units of measurement used to express such quantities;

(c)requirements in relation to the retention of documents and information.

(4)The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this section to prevent or restrict the use of the pint in the marketing of—

(a)draught beer or cider, or

(b)milk in returnable containers.

(5)In this section—

(6)Sections 6 to 11 and 13 make further provision about the power conferred by this section.

(7) Regulations under this section are referred to in this Act as “ metrology regulations ”.

6 Enforcement of metrology regulations I6

(1)Metrology regulations may designate one or more persons as a relevant authority.

(2)Metrology regulations may only designate a person under subsection (1) if person exercises functions of a public nature.

(3)Metrology regulations may make provision conferring on a relevant authority one or more of the following functions—

(a)monitoring compliance with metrology regulations;

(b)investigating suspected non-compliance with metrology regulations;

(c)securing compliance with metrology regulations;

(d)mitigating the effect of non-compliance with metrology regulations.

(4)Metrology regulations may include provision—

(a)conferring power on a relevant authority to appoint inspectors to carry out functions under the regulations;

(b)conferring functions on a relevant authority or an inspector, including—

(i)power to enter, inspect and search premises;

(ii)power to seize and retain goods or evidence of non-compliance with metrology regulations;

(iii)power to require a person to retain or provide a document or information;

(iv)power to dispose of goods or require a person to dispose of goods.

(5)Metrology regulations may not authorise entry into premises used wholly or mainly as a dwelling without a warrant issued by—

(a)in England and Wales, a justice of the peace;

(b)in Scotland, a sheriff, summary sheriff or a justice of the peace;

(c)in Northern Ireland, a lay magistrate.

(6)Provision described in subsection (3)(c) or (d) may include provision conferring power on a relevant authority by notice to require a person to do or cease to do something.

(7)Metrology regulations may make provision for or in connection with sanctions for—

(a)non-compliance with metrology regulations;

(b)non-compliance with a notice issued by a relevant authority under powers conferred by metrology regulations;

(c)obstruction of, or failure to assist or co-operate with, a relevant authority or an inspector;

(d)provision of false or misleading information to a relevant authority or an inspector.

(8)Metrology regulations may include—

(a)provision for a relevant authority to accept undertakings relating to compliance with metrology regulations instead of taking other action;

(b)provision for sanctions for non-compliance with such undertakings;

(c)provision for the forfeiture of goods by court order (or, in Scotland, order of the sheriff).

(9)Provision described in subsection (7) or (8)(b) may include—

(a)provision creating, or widening the scope of, criminal offences;

(b)in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, provision for the prosecution by a relevant authority of criminal offences created or widened under paragraph (a);

(c)provision conferring power on a relevant authority to impose civil sanctions (including fines).

(10)Metrology regulations may make provision about appeals to a court or tribunal.

(11)Where metrology regulations contain provision creating a criminal offence, the provision must have the effect that—

(a)the offence is—

(i)triable summarily only, or

(ii)triable summarily or on indictment;

(b)a person guilty of the offence is liable on summary conviction—

(i)in England and Wales, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both;

(ii)in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both;

(c)a person guilty of the offence is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.

Supplementary provisions

7 Information sharing I7

(1)Product regulations or metrology regulations may make provision for or in connection with the disclosure of information—

(a)by a relevant authority carrying out functions under product regulations or metrology regulations to a person listed in subsection (2), or

(b)by a person listed in subsection (2) to such a relevant authority.

(2)Those persons are—

(a)another relevant authority,

(b)the emergency services, or

(c)a person specified, or of a description specified, in product regulations or metrology regulations.

(3)Provision described in subsection (1) may include provision about—

(a)the circumstances in which information may or must be disclosed;

(b)the type of information which may or must be disclosed;

(c)how information disclosed may or may not be used;

(d)sanctions for non-compliance with provision described in paragraphs (a) to (c) (including provision creating, or widening the scope of, criminal offences).

(4)Except as provided by subsection (5), product regulations or metrology regulations may provide for the processing of information in accordance with the regulations not to be in breach of—

(a)any obligation of confidence owed by the person processing the information, or

(b)any other restriction on the processing of the information (however imposed).

(5)A provision of product regulations or metrology regulations is not to be read as authorising or requiring such processing of information as would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether particular processing of data would do so, take into account the power conferred or duty imposed by the provision in question).

(6)In this section—

8 Cost recovery I8

(1)Product regulations or metrology regulations may make provision for a relevant authority to impose fees in respect of any costs incurred by the relevant authority in carrying out functions conferred on the authority by or under such regulations.

(2)The regulations may include provision about—

(a)who is liable to pay a fee;

(b)the circumstances in which a fee is payable;

(c)the amount of a fee (including how an amount is to be calculated);

(d)reductions, exemptions and waivers;

(e)how and when a fee is to be paid;

(f)the collection and recovery of payments;

(g)interest payable on outstanding payments;

(h)the resolution of disputes (including appeals to a court or tribunal).

(3)Provision under subsection (2)(a) may only provide for a person to be liable if they are capable of being directly affected by the carrying out of functions conferred by product regulations or, as appropriate, metrology regulations.

9 Application to existing product and metrology provision I9

(1)The power to make product regulations includes power to make—

(a)in connection with existing product requirements, any provision described in section 2(4), (6) or (7) that could be made if the existing product requirements were product requirements in product regulations;

(b)in connection with existing product provision, any provision described in sections 3, 4, 7 and 8 that could be made if the existing product provision were provision in product regulations.

(2)The power to make metrology regulations includes power to make, in connection with existing metrology provision, any provision described in sections 6 to 8 that could be made if the existing metrology provision were provision in metrology regulations.

(3)In this section—

10 Regulations making provision within devolved competence I10

(1)The Secretary of State may only make regulations under section 1 which contain provision within Scottish devolved competence with the consent of the Scottish Ministers, unless the provision is merely incidental to, or consequential on, provision outside Scottish devolved competence.

(2)The Secretary of State may only make regulations under section 1 which contain provision within Welsh devolved competence with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, unless the provision is merely incidental to, or consequential on, provision outside Welsh devolved competence.

(3)The Secretary of State may only make regulations under section 1 or 5(2) which contain provision within Northern Ireland devolved competence with the consent of the relevant Northern Ireland department, unless the provision is merely incidental to, or consequential on, provision outside Northern Ireland devolved competence.

(4) In subsection (3) , the “relevant Northern Ireland department” is such Northern Ireland department as the Secretary of State considers appropriate having regard to the provision which is to be contained in the regulations concerned.

(5)For the purposes of this section, provision is—

(a)within Scottish devolved competence if it would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were contained in an Act of that Parliament;

(b)within Welsh devolved competence if it would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if it were contained in an Act of the Senedd (including any provision that could be made only with the consent of a Minister of the Crown);

(c)within Northern Ireland devolved competence if the provision—

(i)would be within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly if it were contained in an Act of that Assembly, and

(ii)would not, if it were contained in a Bill for an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, result in the Bill requiring the consent of the Secretary of State under section 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(6)In Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (general restrictions on legislative competence of Senedd Cymru), in paragraph 9(8)(b) (exceptions to restrictions relating to reserved authorities)—

(a) omit the “or” at the end of paragraph (viii);

(b)at the end of paragraph (ix) insert “; or

(x)the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.”

(7) In this section “ Minister of the Crown ” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 .

11 Consequential amendment of certain Acts I11

(1)In the Consumer Protection Act 1987 omit Parts 2 and 4.

(2)Product regulations or metrology regulations may, in consequence of any provision made by or under this Act, amend or repeal provision made by the Gun Barrel Proof Acts 1868 to 1978.

(3)In the Weights and Measures Act 1985 omit sections 1, 8(1)(a) and 25 and Schedule 1.

(4)Regulations under this Act may, in consequence of any amendment or repeal made by or under subsection (1), (2) or (3), amend or repeal provision made by or under an Act passed—

(a)before this Act, or

(b)later in the same session of Parliament as this Act.

Final provisions

12 Interpretation I12

(1)In this Act—

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this section for the purposes of altering the definition of “online marketplace”.

13 Regulations I13

(1)Regulations under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.

(2)Regulations under this Act may—

(a)make provision generally or in relation to particular cases;

(b)make different provision for different purposes;

(c)make different provision for different areas;

(d)make provision about the form and manner in which things must or may be done;

(e)make provision about the time by which, or period within which, things must or may be done;

(f)make provision binding the Crown;

(g)make consequential, supplementary, incidental, transitional or saving provision.

(3)Regulations under this Act which contain provision specified in subsection (4) (with or without other provision) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(4)The provision referred to in subsection (3) is—

(a)the first provision described in section 2(2)(e) contained in product regulations;

(b)the first provision described in section 2(3)(e) contained in product regulations;

(c)provision described in section 2(3)(i) that imposes the first product requirements on the category of person specified in that provision;

(d)provision described in section 3(4)(b)(i) and 6(4)(b)(i);

(e)provision described in section 4;

(f)provision creating, or widening the scope of, a criminal offence;

(g)provision described in sections 7, 8 and 11;

(h)provision described in section 12(2).

(5)A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Act, other than regulations to which subsection (3) applies, is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6)Before making regulations under this Act, the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(7)Subsections (2) to (6) do not apply to regulations under section 15.

14 Extent I14

This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

15 Commencement I15

(1)Section 11(1) and (3) comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint, and the Secretary of State may appoint different days for different purposes.

(2)The rest of this Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

16 Short title I16

This Act may be cited as the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Section 1(3)

Schedule Excluded products

1 I17 Food as defined in section 1 of the Food Safety Act 1990.

2 I18 Feeding stuff and fertiliser as defined in section 66 of the Agriculture Act 1970.

3 I19 Plants, fruit and fungi.

4 I20 Plant protection products as defined in Article 2(1) of concerning the placing of plant protection Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Councilproducts on the market.

5 I21 Animal by-products as defined in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption.

6 I22 Products of animal origin as defined in point 8.1 of Annex 1 to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.

7 I23 Aircraft and components of aircraft.

8 I24 Products used or specifically designed for the purpose of operating or controlling aircraft, training persons in the operation or control of aircraft or ensuring the safe operation or control of aircraft.

9 I25 Military equipment as defined in section 7(7) of the Procurement Act 2023.

10 I26 Medicines and medical devices as defined in the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021, other than devices designed for weighing or measuring for medical purposes.

Status: There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.
Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 (2025/20)
Version from: 21 July 2025

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Status of this instrument

in force Provision is in force
in force* In force only for specified purposes (see footnote)
not in force Not in force in England (may be in force in other geographies, see footnotes)
defined term Defined term
dfn Defined term (alternative style)
footnote commentary transitional and savings in force status related provisions geo extent insert/omit source count in force adj
I1 S. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I2 S. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I3 S. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I4 S. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I5 S. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I6 S. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I7 S. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I8 S. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I9 S. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I10 S. 10 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I11 S. 11(2)(4) in force at Royal Assent and s. 11(1)(3) not in force, see s. 15
I12 S. 12 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I13 S. 13 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I14 S. 14 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I15 S. 15 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I16 S. 16 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I17 Sch. para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I18 Sch. para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I19 Sch. para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I20 Sch. para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I21 Sch. para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I22 Sch. para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I23 Sch. para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I24 Sch. para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I25 Sch. para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
I26 Sch. para. 10 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 15(2)
Defined Term Section/Article ID Scope of Application
aircraft para 7 of Schedule def_5e26a8370c
aircraft para 8 of Schedule def_8ab61676de
authorised representative s. 12 def_7527671c72
document s. 12 def_0c3589b57a
domestic animal s. 12 def_8c149c9924
electromagnetic disturbance s. 1 def_73576a5b2d
emergency services s. 7 def_25bc1ec77e
EU law s. 12 def_1d955965f7
existing metrology provision s. 9 def_bdcbfc1ee4
existing product provision s. 9 def_7d0f0ffec7
existing product requirements s. 9 def_43a6255747
goods s. 5 def_830be88360
health s. 12 def_03f7c06305
intangible s. 2 def_cc440ac991
made available on the market s. 12 def_57db29569a
manufacture s. 12 def_2c78397f87
marketing s. 12 def_059639d1b3
marketing s. 1 def_bbb207b548
metrology regulations s. 12 def_1cf73517f2
metrology regulations s. 5 def_1f95f9891b
Minister of the Crown s. 10 def_86dad02340
mobile application s. 12 def_7607b8347d
online marketplace s. 12 def_30d3765d9a
online marketplace s. 12 def_14d8cadd84
pint s. 5 def_12384cafa9
premises s. 12 def_f946742496
processing s. 7 def_8e7c0f0bf2
product s. 12 def_fc8d9fd6d6
product s. 1 def_ab994ac489
product regulations s. 12 def_be9afa1b4b
product regulations s. 1 def_f80df1471c
product requirements s. 12 def_c21c2b0fa7
product requirements s. 2 def_76514c8eb8
production s. 12 def_f15d0638e8
production s. 1 def_619337c96a
quantity s. 5 def_525e00aa85
radio equipment para 7 of Schedule def_a8de575438
radio equipment para 8 of Schedule def_2913448dbe
relevant authority s. 12 def_d5fb170382
relevant EU law s. 12 def_06efa008a1
relevant EU law s. 1 def_aab8e0289a
subordinate legislation s. 9 def_e61c3bfc9c
the data protection legislation s. 7 def_e94b711a22
unit of measurement s. 5 def_142119033e
unmanned aircraft para 7 of Schedule def_519ca0dc20
unmanned aircraft para 8 of Schedule def_cb3e7a6f22
use s. 12 def_64c0aa7bcc
use s. 1 def_006a8cd518

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