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Protective Clothing: Electronic Commerce

Asked by Kirsteen SullivanLabour (Co-op)Department for Business and TradeTabled Answered 23 February 2026UIN 113172

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his proposed timeline is for introducing regulations for online retailing of Personal Protective Equipment under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden

As required by Regulation 2016/425, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must meet essential health and safety requirements before being placed on the market, including online. The Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 provides the framework to enforce these regulations.

We recognise the challenge of non-compliant products sold online. Government will consult on major reforms to the core product safety legislative framework in early 2026. This will include proposals to modernise and clarify responsibilities of online marketplaces using the powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

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