Product bulletin: April 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of our product law bulletin.

The headlines…

New terms of reference for UK product liability reform project

The Law Commission has commenced a review of the UK's current product liability regime, approximately 40 years since it was introduced under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Li-ion battery fire risk continues to rage, with warehouses at increased risk

Losses caused by lithium-ion (li-ion) battery fires continue to add up, with recent US data indicating the average settlement for such a case now exceeds US$7.8 million.

Updating old laws on electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters

The Department of Transport is currently consulting on powered mobility devices, such as electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with a view to modernising outdated legislation.

E-scooting towards more injuries as regulation lags behind

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has highlighted the increasing safety cost of the continued use of electric scooters (e-scooters) on UK roads, citing recent figures showing that six people were killed and a striking 26 people injured every week in collisions involving e-scooters in 2024.

Packaging producer responsibility monitoring plan 2026

The Environment Agency has introduced its 2026 packaging producer responsibility monitoring plan which sets out how it will oversee compliance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

Commission seeks views on strengthening EU product safety and market rules

In November 2025, the European Commission opened a wide-ranging consultation on plans to modernise the EU’s product regulatory regime, with a particular emphasis on digital products, online sales and circular economy models. 

Regulation demanding beauty without the beast

Increasingly, we are seeking a greater understanding on what is in products, especially those we put on our bodies.