With a unique position at the heart of the UK’s regulatory
system, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is
providing advice and support to local authorities, businesses,
professional bodies and other government departments.
OPSS is working with local authorities and businesses to protect
the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means supporting
compliance with business closures and product safety regulations
and easing regulatory burdens where possible, without
compromising safety, in particular to ensure essential personal
protective equipment (PPE) reaches the NHS.
In particular, OPSS has updated its business guidance on
personal protective equipment to ensure businesses are
aware of the administrative easements that have been agreed to
speed up the supply of PPE.
Supporting vital research
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) team within OPSS is advising
researchers on legally accessing samples of COVID-19 from abroad.
Scientists are mapping the spread of the virus to inform the UK’s
response, detect whether new strains are emerging and guide the
development of treatments to combat the disease.
Viruses are in scope of the ABS compliance measures in force in
the UK which implements the Nagoya Protocol, and there are
provisions in cases of public health emergencies to ensure timely
sample sharing so that this vital research is not delayed.
Tackling the rule breakers
Intelligence was received within OPSS that a business based in
Germany was selling COVID-19 test kits and surgical masks that
did not have the appropriate documentation to demonstrate they
were safe.
The OPSS Intel team, which is coordinating the Office’s
intelligence sharing, informed the National Crime Agency (NCA) as
part of a multi-agency response to the crisis.
The German authorities have confirmed that business is not
licensed to sell medical products and has been providing using
fraudulent documentation and certificates, and will be taking
legal action against the company.
Supporting business through Primary Authority
FareShare works with a network of 17 partner organisations to
provide one million meals a week to 11,000 frontline charities
and community groups. Currently, it is playing a key role in food
redistribution work both nationally and particularly in London
through the London Food Alliance. It has received advice about
safety and compliance from the Royal Borough of Greenwich through
their direct and coordinated partnerships.
And the partnership between Lichfield District Council and
Central England Co-op is providing a shopping assistance service
to vulnerable people within the district. The council has
contacted vulnerable people about the service and set up a
dedicated community assistance telephone number.
The council coordinates food orders and distributes the food
provided by Central England Co-op which has replicated the model
with five other Midlands local authorities.
