Second-hand goods safety

Supplying second-hand products

Second-hand products and goods must be safe for consumers to use. You're considered a product supplier if you sell, offer to sell, auction or donate a product as a free giveaway or as a prize.

We have created a guide for charity shops, auctioneers and people who supply, hire out or sell second-hand goods.

Second-hand goods safety advice

Our guide includes checklists for items often sold second-hand and summarises basic checks you should do before you sell these items second-hand. You can record actions you've taken or comments on the checklists. 

The guide has information on:

• general product safety
• baby walkers
• bicycles
• bunk and high beds
• children’s clothes
• cots and car seats
• electrical goods
• furniture
• gas appliances
• highchairs
• playpens
• prams and pushchairs
• sunglasses
• toys and imitation foods

Our guide is not an authoritative interpretation of the law. We have prepared this information for guidance only. Our guide indicates the main points to look for when preparing products for sale. 

To ask for a guide and additional copies of the checklists, email [email protected] or call 028 9027 0428.

Product recall and product safety information

Our guide includes external links on how to check for product recalls and product safety information. Product recall and product safety information is published by government and charitable organisations.

• Product recalls and alerts (link opens in new window)
• Product Recalls and Safety Notices (link opens in new window)
• Gas Safety Alerts (link opens in new window)
• RoSPA- Second-hand goods safety (link opens in new window)
• Trading Standards UK (link opens in new window)