ESC’s Product Safety Conference produces the goods
The Electrical Safety Council’s (ESC) recent Product Safety Conference brought together a wide range of speakers and delegates to discuss the latest developments in market surveillance and electrical product safety.
The event was launched by Edward Davey MP, the Minister for Consumer Policy and Consumer Affairs, who thanked the ESC for hosting the event and using its expertise to support a more integrated approach to market surveillance.The Minister emphasised the increasing importance of cooperation to avoid duplication of effort and better use of intelligence gathering, stating that, ‘Partnership is critical and business working with enforcement agencies is critical, particularly in these challenging times.’
In a speech which noted the need for greater collaboration at all levels – both within the UK, the EU and globally – he also made it clear that consumer safety remained the priority. ‘This government is totally committed to consumer safety. There is no intention of compromising this. But we have to target our resources to the areas of real concern.’
The title of the ESC conference was ‘Market Surveillance – overcoming cutbacks through a combined approach’. The programme covered a range of key issues, including a review of the UK’s surveillance priorities and a look at how collaborative working between manufacturers and government agencies is increasing seizures of unsafe and counterfeit goods. Other presentations covered the creative approaches used by local enforcement agencies to deal with budget cuts, product testing and third party certification.
‘This is the second Product Safety Conference we have run,’ explained Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC (pictured with Edward Davey MP). ‘With the success of the first one, we knew there was a demand for an event of this nature. It offers an ideal opportunity to bring together various key stakeholders from across the board – manufacturers, consumers, industry and government bodies – to work together to ensure consumer protection benefits fully from a collaborative approach.’
