Consumer Safety

Product Safety Advice for Consumers 

Many people are injured each year due to faulty consumer goods.  Product safety involves ensuring all goods on sale to the public are safe for their intended use.  The responsibility to supply safe consumer goods applies all the way down from the manufacturer to the retailer. This means, that products being sold should comply with any relevant legislation.   

Legal requirements are the same whether you supply goods from a business premises, home, a stall or via online platforms. 

What we do 

Local councils have enforcement responsibilities for safety-related issues with Consumer Goods. The Council helps protect consumers against unsafe goods.  

We will: 

• Respond to consumer complaints. 
• Carry out programmed inspections of premises to ensure goods on sale are safe. 
• Provide advice to suppliers about legislation. 
• Sample consumer goods to ensure they meet required standards of safety. 

Contact us 

If you would like to make a complaint regarding an unsafe consumer product, please contact the Environmental Health Product Safety Team: 

Telephone: 0300 013 3333 
Email: consumerprotection@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Related information:  

• Never miss out on appliance safety repairs or recalls. Register your appliance at registermyappliance.org.uk
• Download the Blind Cords Safety Leaflet  (PDF) [639KB](opens new window)
• Download the Button Batteries Leaflet  (PDF) [665KB](opens new window)
• Download the Christmas Toy Safety Leaflet  (PDF) [545KB](opens new window)
• Download the E-cigarette batteries Leaflet  (PDF) [333KB](opens new window)
• Download the Fireworks Leaflet  (PDF) [1MB](opens new window)
• Download the Halloween Leaflet  (PDF) [154KB](opens new window)
• Download the Stay Safe this Summer Leaflet  (PDF) [653KB](opens new window)
• Product Recalls and Safety Notices  
• Teeth Whitening consumer advice can be found at Tooth whitening | nidirect 
• Interested in cosmetic treatments? Read this first: Are you thinking of having a cosmetic treatment? - Ards and North Down Borough Council
• Whirlpool Product Recall: read more at Whirlpool-Home

Other Useful links

The role of Trading Standards is to promote and maintain fair trading, protect consumers, and help reputable businesses to thrive in NI.  

For information on Trading Standards issues, visit Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service | Department for the Economy (economy-ni.gov.uk)

The Consumer Council provide free independent support and advice for all consumers and businesses in N.I.  They also have the powers to investigate complaints about energy, water, transport and postal services.  

For General Consumer queries visit the Consumer Council website (consumercouncil.org.uk)