Liability insurance
Product liability insurance
In product liability insurance terms, a product is any physical item that is sold or given away.
Products must be 'fit for purpose'. You're legally responsible for any damage or injury that a product you supply may cause.
Your responsibilities
If you supply a faulty product, claimants may try to claim from you first, even if you did not manufacture it. You'll be liable for compensation claims if:
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your business' name is on the product
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your business repairs, refurbishes or changes it
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you imported it from outside the European Union
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you cannot clearly identify the manufacturer
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the manufacturer has gone out of business
Otherwise, the manufacturer is liable - or the processor, where the product involves parts from multiple manufacturers.
However, you must also:
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show that the products were faulty when they were supplied to you
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show that you gave consumers adequate safety instructions and warnings about misuse
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show that you included terms for return of faulty goods to the manufacturer or processor in any sales contract you issued to the consumer
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make sure that your supply contract with the manufacturer or processor covers product safety, quality control and product returns
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have good quality control and record-keeping systems
What is covered
Product liability insurance covers you against damages awarded as a result of damage to property or personal injury caused by your product. If damages are paid for personal injury, the NHS can claim to recover the costs of hospital treatment (including ambulance costs). This applies to incidents that occur either on or after 29 January 2007.
Product liability insurance may not cover you against financial losses to a business or person caused by a faulty product which you manufactured, serviced or supplied. Download a guide to the Consumer Protection Act 1987 from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) website (PDF, 206K) - Opens in a new window.
Product liability insurance also covers you against unforeseen circumstances, such as product faults your quality control system couldn't trace. However, if you simply make an inferior product, you may be unable to make a claim, or even get insurance. Bad workmanship is not covered either.
Before issuing a policy your insurer will want to know that your:
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manufacturing or services are conducted according to industry best practice
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staff are adequately trained
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equipment and systems are appropriate, up to date and well maintained
How much cover to take out
Most businesses have cover of between £1 million and £5 million. The norm is £2 million.
Implementing quality control measures may help to reduce your premiums and will certainly reduce the risk of compensation claims and protect your reputation in the marketplace.
Subjects covered in this guide
- Introduction
- How liability insurance works
- Employers' liability insurance
- Public liability insurance
- Product liability insurance
- Insurance against pollution damages
- Property owners' liability insurance
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Directors' and officers' liability
- Seek specialist advice
- Here's how I checked what insurance I need
Actions
- Injury Costs Recovery Scheme details on the DoH website - Opens in a new window
- Download Consumer Protection Act 1987 guidance from the BIS website (PDF, 260K) - Opens in a new window
- Product liability information on the BIS website - Opens in a new window
- Solicitor search tool on the Law Society website - Opens in a new window
- Use our interactive tool to work out which forms of insurance you should have for your business
- Manage your personal list of starting-up tasks with our Business start-up organiser
- View local and national events linked to this topic
