Effective 29 April 2024, the UK’s consumer connectable product security regime requires manufactures, importers and distributors of connectible products to be sold in the UK to comply with relevant security requirements set out in the Act.  

Connectable products cover all products that are internet-connectable (“capable of being connected to the internet”) or network connectable (“capable of both sending and receiving data by means of a transmission involving electrical or electromagnetic energy”), unless exempted under section 6 of the Regulations. (bit.ly/UKNewSecurityRequirementsforConnectibleProducts) 

Manufacturers must comply with the following security requirements: 

• Ensure any pre-installed device passwords are unique or chosen by the user. 

• Publish a vulnerability disclosure policy. 

• Inform consumers how long security updates for the relevant product will be provided for. 

• Accompany each product with a statement of compliance, which includes all of the information specified in Schedule 4 to the Regulations. Importers and distributors may not make a product available in the UK unless it is accompanied by a statement of compliance. 

Manufacturers, distributors and importers all have a responsibility to: 

• Investigate any failure to comply with one of the above security requirements and take action accordingly. Importers and distributors also have a duty not to supply products in the UK where there is a compliance failure by the manufacturer. 

• Keep records of any compliance failures and investigate for at least 10 years. 

Where action taken in relation to a compliance failure is considered to be inadequate, breaches of the Act and Regulations may result in product recalls.  Fines for failure to comply with duties may be up to GBP 10 million or 4% worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. 

The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) will be responsible for enforcing the PSTI Act 2022 and 2023 Regulations from 29 April 2024. Regulations: consumer connectible product safety 

 For further questions and clarifications, you may contact EMB Market and Product Officers at mid@dti.gov.ph and famd@dti.gov.ph respectively.