Security News > 2021 > December > New UK product security law won't be undercut by rogue traders upping and vanishing, government boasts

Britain's plans to force internet-connected device vendors to declare legally binding product lifespans won't be easily evaded by shell companies, the government has told The Register.

After the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill was introduced to Parliament last week, some questioned whether the legislation would prevent unscrupulous manufacturers and importers from avoiding legal liability by setting up shell companies.

The proposed new law will, so government spokespeople say, make manufacturers, importers, and vendors declare what a product's supported lifespan is to consumers at the point of purchase.

Government intent is to prevent suppliers of cheap IoT gadgets from dumping them on the UK market and running away without offering security updates if vulnerabilities are later discovered.

A DCMS spokesman told us: "UK regulators are experienced in dealing with rogue traders and these new laws don't just cover distributors but also manufacturers and importers, which will lead to a reduction in the number of insecure products on the market."

The PSTI bill will give government figures the power to order product recalls if DCMS believes a particular item breaches minimum UK security standards.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/12/02/psti_bill_phoenixing_dcms_response/