The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 gives the UK government broad new powers to set safety rules for products sold in Britain, with AI-driven devices, connected smart products, and lithium-ion battery powered equipment specifically flagged as areas the new framework is designed to address. The Act itself does not set detailed rules directly. Instead, it hands the Secretary of State power to introduce secondary legislation covering specific product categories, which means the real impact on any individual business will depend on regulations still to come. For companies making, importing, or selling AI-enabled or connected products in the UK, understanding what this Act actually does, and what to prepare for, matters well before the detailed rules land.
Since receiving Royal Assent in July 2025, coverage of this Act has remained almost entirely within specialist legal publications aimed at corporate compliance teams, leaving smaller UK businesses with little accessible explanation of what is changing and why. This guide sets out what the Act covers, who it affects, and the practical steps worth taking now while the detailed regulations are still being developed.
What the Act Actually Does
The Act replaces the UK’s patchwork of retained EU product safety law with a flexible domestic framework, giving ministers the power to set or update safety standards across a wide range of products without needing fresh primary legislation each time. It specifically enables regulation aimed at reducing risks from products, ensuring they operate effectively, and addressing environmental impact where appropriate. A related government consultation launched in March 2026 proposes replacing the existing General Product Safety Regulations entirely, described by legal commentators as the most significant overhaul of UK product safety rules in two decades.
Who This Affects
| Business Type | Likely Impact |
|---|---|
| Manufacturers of AI-enabled or connected devices | New requirements for built-in safety features and ongoing post-market performance monitoring |
| Importers and distributors | Greater responsibility for verifying products meet updated safety and documentation requirements |
| Online marketplaces | Expected to take proactive steps to identify and remove unsafe or non-compliant listings |
| Businesses using lithium-ion battery powered equipment | Likely subject to specific safety standards given batteries are explicitly flagged as a risk area |
Why AI and Connected Products Are a Specific Focus
Unlike traditional product safety law, which was largely built around physical, static goods, this framework is explicitly designed to address products that update their own behaviour after sale, connect to the internet, or make autonomous decisions, characteristics that barely existed when the previous regulatory regime was written. This includes AI-driven devices whose functionality can change through software updates after the point of sale, raising questions about ongoing safety responsibility that a one-time pre-sale safety check cannot fully address. Businesses selling robotics, smart home devices, or AI-integrated products should expect this area to receive particular regulatory attention as detailed rules develop.
Preparing Before the Detailed Rules Arrive
- Review current product documentation and safety testing records now, since demonstrating due diligence is likely to matter regardless of the final rule detail.
- Consider how your business would monitor a product’s safety performance after sale, particularly for anything with AI functionality or remote software updates.
- If trading with the EU as well as the UK, watch for divergence between UK and EU requirements, since the Act allows alignment with EU rules but does not require it.
- Follow the outcome of the government’s product safety consultation, since the response will shape the specific obligations businesses ultimately face.
- For businesses in higher risk categories, such as those explicitly named in the Act’s supporting Code of Conduct, expect more detailed and earlier regulatory attention than lower risk product categories.
Expert Insight
Legal specialists tracking this Act consistently note that its true impact is currently unknowable in detail, since it is an enabling framework rather than a finished rulebook, but they are equally consistent in advising businesses not to wait for final regulations before starting to prepare. Reviewing existing safety documentation and post-market monitoring capability now, rather than once specific rules are confirmed, tends to make eventual compliance considerably smoother than a rushed response after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 apply immediately?
The Act itself grants powers to the government, but most specific product requirements will only take effect once secondary legislation is introduced, so the practical impact will arrive in stages rather than all at once.
Does this Act only affect large manufacturers?
No, the responsibilities extend across the supply chain, including importers, distributors, and online marketplaces, meaning smaller UK businesses selling AI-enabled or connected products are within scope too.
Will UK product safety rules stay aligned with the EU?
The Act allows but does not require alignment with EU standards, meaning UK and EU requirements could diverge in future, which is a particular consideration for businesses trading in both markets.
What products are considered highest priority under the new framework?
AI-driven devices, digitally connected products, and lithium-ion battery powered equipment have all been specifically flagged as focus areas, alongside existing high-risk categories such as construction products.
What should a small business selling smart or AI products do right now?
Reviewing current safety documentation and considering how post-market performance could realistically be monitored are practical steps that will help regardless of the eventual detailed rules.
Final Thoughts
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 marks a genuine shift in how the UK will regulate AI-enabled and connected products, though its full practical impact depends on secondary legislation still being developed. Businesses selling robotics, smart devices, or AI-integrated products are well placed to start reviewing safety documentation and monitoring capability now, rather than waiting for the detailed rules to land. For related reading, see our guide to robot vacuum and mower battery fire safety, one of the specific risk areas this new framework is designed to address.
