Product Recall

A product recall is an official safety notice about a product that has been sold, listed on GOV.UK by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Last updated: 19 October 2026

What it means

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) publishes a searchable list on GOV.UK of product safety alerts, product safety reports and product recalls. Each entry shows its type, a risk level and a measure type, such as recall of the product from end users [1]. The page does not explain how the three types differ, and it does not say what to do if you own a recalled product, so each individual notice is where the instructions are [1].

Why it matters when you buy

Check the list for the brand and model before you buy and if you already own the product. Our product safety and recalls page explains how we check.

How you will see it

In December 2019 GOV.UK reported that Whirlpool would recall an estimated 500,000 Indesit and Hotpoint washing machines whose door locks could overheat and catch fire. Affected owners were advised to unplug the machine and register with Whirlpool for a replacement [2].

Sources

  1. Product safety alerts, reports and recalls, Office for Product Safety and Standards, GOV.UK. Searched 19 October 2026.
  2. Whirlpool to issue washing machine recall following intervention by regulator, GOV.UK, gov.uk. Published 17 December 2019, updated 15 January 2020. Checked 19 October 2026.