Testing - General Product Safety Assessments

The latest version of the General Product Safety Regulations came into force in October 2005. The purpose of this document is to ensure that producers shall only put safe products on the domestic market.

FIRA’s independent experts and access to its wide range of test facilities provide our clients with the confidence that their products are safe for domestic use.

The regulations introduce a presumption of conformity if a product conforms to a voluntary European standard, but only as far as the risks are covered by that standard. National legislation (e.g. Flammability Regulations) takes precedence and, should there be no European standards, then National standards apply.

It is important, however, to realise that compliance with a standard does not imply that a product is totally safe, especially where the standard itself does not provide an acceptable level of safety.

Even though in some cases failure to meet a standard does not always mean that a product is unsafe, enforcement bodies such as Trading Standards will use these standards as benchmarks for compliance. Hence, failure to meet the standard is taken as indication of an unsafe product and the onus is on the producer to prove its innocence.

FIRA’s knowledge of furniture standards, supported by its attendance on over 50 standards making committees, places its experts in a unique position to be able to assist producers with the interpretation of the regulations. Our experts will recommend the best option for producers and enforcement bodies will recognise your company’s willingness to comply with the regulations through consultation with a reputable, independent authority.

Apply for testing today with our online form

Contact: Sue Brighten
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