In the UK, stringent safety standards are placed on products for human use and consumption. However apart from some food and medicine standards, there are no specific safety regulations which apply to pet products such as chew toys, pet bowls, rope toys or other such goods. These products are instead covered under more general regulations and wider product categories.
This blog post will explore some of these regulations and how they can be used to inform the design of safe products for pets.
The GPSR
Some pet products may fall under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) which implements the EU’s General Product Safety Directive into UK law. The GPSR is a safety framework that covers all consumer products, including products such as pet clothing, bowls, enclosures, and blankets among many other products. The GPSR is a “catch-all” requirement for products where specific regulations do not exist or where existing regulations do not address particular risks.
Although the GPSR mitigates obviously dangerous and hazardous products, it mainly focuses on risk prevention through proper instructional material and adequate safety measures. However, these guidelines are designed from the perspective of a human using the product and may fall short in fully protecting pets from products that could pose unforeseen dangers.
Referring to Other Standards
Where specific standards may not exist for a particular product, a product can still refer to standards that cover similar use case products. For example:
BS EN 1930: This standard details the safety requirements and testing methods for child safety barriers. Although these barriers are designed to keep children safe, they can also fulfil the same purpose with dogs.
BS EN 71: This standard, which focuses on toy safety, includes tests concerning mechanical properties, substance restrictions and flammability. Manufacturers of pet products, such as chew toys, could use this standard to ensure the safety and durability of a pet product.
Standards for Electronic Pet Products
Advancements in technology and the growing demand for high quality pet care in recent years, have led to more and more pet products containing electronics and batteries. Electronic products are subject to various standards and directives in the UK, such as The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations. This is the UK’s equivalent of the European Low Voltage Directive. If your product falls under these regulations, it is legally required to meet the Principal Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment.
A UKCA mark (the equivalent of Europe’s CE mark) will also have to be affixed to the product once complying with the regulations in order to be sold within the United Kingdom.
Conclusion
Due to the lack of specific regulations regarding pet products in the UK it’s important to select the right right product design company to help bring your idea to life. A good design company will keep pet safety a number one priority for a pet-loving client, making decisions based on this throughout the development of a project. Material choices, mechanical properties and conscientious design solutions should be taken into consideration when designing for our furry friends.
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By James Lamb
Founder
