United Kingdom · Research & data · Issue #3 · 21/09 – 27/09
OPSS study examines manufacturers’ product-compliance costs
New OPSS research examines the time and money UK manufacturers spend meeting product-regulation requirements.
What the primary source says
OPSS published Costs of compliance on 23 September 2026. IFF Research surveyed 604 UK manufacturers and weighted responses to represent around 170,000 regulated businesses. Around 35% reported ongoing annual compliance costs, rising to 50% among medium and large firms.
The findings are self-reported business estimates. They describe compliance activity and costs, rather than establishing that particular products are unsafe. The study gives regulators and businesses evidence for assessing the practical demands of product regulation.
Source: Office for Product Safety and Standards (2026-09-23). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costs-of-compliance
Why it matters
The useful distinction
Understanding compliance work can inform support for manufacturers and the records buyers expect suppliers to maintain.
This briefing is an independent summary of the evidence sources below. Context-only links are not used as factual authority. It does not establish that a product, organisation or listing is unsafe, unlawful or non-compliant beyond what the evidence reports.