Everything you sell in the UK must be safe, and that is your responsibility as well as the manufacturer's, even though you never handle the product. When the product comes from outside the UK, you can carry more of that responsibility than you might expect.
This guide explains what the law expects of you, and the extra rules for three kinds of product that catch people out.
Everyone who sells it is responsible
gov.uk says that if you make, import, distribute or sell consumer products in the UK, you are responsible for making sure they are safe. The General Product Safety Regulations require every product to be safe when it is used normally, or in a way someone could reasonably expect.
When the product comes from abroad
If the manufacturer is outside the UK and has no representative here, the business in the UK that brings the product onto the market is treated as the producer. When you dropship from a supplier abroad straight to a UK customer, that can be you. A producer has to make sure the product is safe before it goes on sale, give customers the information they need about any risks, and make sure the product can be traced, for example with the producer's name and address on the product or its packaging.
If you sell a product under your own brand name, you take on the manufacturer's responsibilities as well.
Keep a record of every supplier
gov.uk says you need to keep records of the suppliers of the products you sell, so that where they came from can be traced. Your supplier app and your orders are a good start, but keep your own list of which supplier sent which product.
Three kinds of product with extra rules
- Toys. The toy safety rules cover anything designed for children under 14 to play with. The business that brings a toy into the UK must check it has been tested and marked properly, and put its own name and postal address on it.
- Electrical goods. Anything that runs on mains electricity is covered by the electrical equipment rules. The business that brings it into the UK must check the manufacturer has had it tested, and put its own name and postal address on it.
- Cosmetics. Every cosmetic product sold in Great Britain must have a Responsible Person with a UK address, who holds a safety assessment and a product file and tells the Office for Product Safety and Standards about the product before it goes on sale. If you bring cosmetics in from abroad, that can be you.
If you aren't sure you can meet these rules, the simplest answer is not to sell these products.
The UKCA and CE marks
Some products must carry a mark to show they have been tested: UKCA for products tested by a UK body, or CE for products tested by an EU body. Great Britain still accepts the CE mark for many kinds of product. Not every product needs a mark, only those covered by their own rules, such as toys and electrical goods. Check the marks on your sample when it arrives.
If a product turns out to be unsafe
If you find out something you have sold is unsafe, you must tell the manufacturer or supplier and your local Trading Standards service. A producer who knows a product is dangerous must tell the authorities in writing straight away. A recall can mean sending customers new instructions, or asking them to stop using the product and return it for a refund.
The penalties can be serious: gov.uk gives a fine of up to £20,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both. And if an unsafe product injures someone or damages their property, you could be sued for compensation.
The rules are being rewritten
The government consulted in 2026 on a new set of product safety rules to replace the current ones, saying too many dangerous products are sold to UK customers online. Nothing has been decided yet, so check gov.uk before you start.
