This report represents the first comprehensive attempt by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to develop an evidence-based approach for estimating consumer and business detriment caused by unsafe and non-compliant products on the UK market. It includes a scoping of relevant types of detriment and draws on interviews with experts, a literature review, and an extensive data review and data gathering exercise covering numerous UK and international sources.
The economic model presented in this report builds on the methodology established in earlier commissioned research and reflects the best available evidence at the time of writing. Continued refinement and enhancement will enable OPSS to deepen its understanding of where unsafe and non-compliant products impose the greatest harm on consumers, businesses and the wider economy. This work is important in strengthening the analytical foundations that support regulatory decision-making and help OPSS prioritise activity where it delivers the greatest benefits.
