General Product Safety Rules Take Effect Across the Network

The Consumer Protection Office of the Velocity Interoperability Network today issued the first edition of the general product safety rules. The eight rules apply from 6 September 2026 to every product supplied within the Network, whether new or second-hand, and whether supplied by a trader established in the Network or by one supplying into it.

The rules require that only safe products are supplied; that safety information accompanies the product in plain language; that every product can be traced to the person who supplied it; that unsafe products are notified to the Office; that records of supply are kept for six years; and that traders cooperate with the Office when a hazard is being assessed. Four supplementary standards apply to electrical goods, to products intended for children, to materials intended to come into contact with food and to personal protective equipment.

Products lawfully supplied before 6 September 2026 under arrangements made by member organisations remain lawfully supplied, and stock already held by traders need not be withdrawn. The rules apply in full to anything supplied on or after that date. The Office will assess compliance in the first instance by inspection of records and, where a hazard is suspected, by testing.

The full text of the rules, the supplementary standards and the assessment procedure are published on the Product Safety page of this site. Traders seeking guidance on their duties may write to contact@consumer.gov.vin.