Plans are being drawn up to allow businesses to label their products electronically, saving time and money.
The option to make product information available digitally via a screen is expected to be included in an overhaul of the UK’s product safety laws which has been announced.
Voluntary electronic labelling (“E-Labelling”) would reduce unnecessary red tape by doing away with the current requirement to attach or stamp a physical label on to items for sale.
The Product Safety Review is being carried to bring product safety laws – which are more than 30 years old – in line with 21st century innovations.
One of the aims is to better regulate internet-connected devices such as smart watches and speakers, and artificial intelligence.
Since Brexit the UK has been able to create its own product safety regime to better suit UK businesses and ensure customers are protected online.
Voluntary E-labelling is not currently accepted in the EU under consumer product safety rules.
The Review incorporates consultation on how best to modernise the regulations.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “I am determined to use our post-Brexit freedoms to identify outdated EU laws placing unnecessary burdens on business and reform them to benefit both companies and consumers.
“These changes will provide better consumer protections while upholding our world-leading safety standards and will also cut costs for business to ensure they have the freedom they need to innovate and thrive, helping to create jobs and grow the economy.”
Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “We welcome measures to ease the burden on small businesses while ensuring high safety standards. Regulatory requirements should be designed to be as consistent and straightforward as possible to reduce the costs of compliance for small firms.
“The complexity of the current UK product safety system means that firms, especially new entrants and small businesses, can struggle to understand their obligations, resulting in hindered growth and hampered consumer choice.”
The UK government is set to have passed legislation by the end of this year which will revoke or reform more than 2,000 pieces of Retained EU Law.
