European product recalls drop by 17.4% in Q1 2026

LONDON, 21 May 2026 – After hitting a record high of 4,134 events in Q4 2025, the number of European product recalls fell to 3,413 events in Q1 2026, according to Sedgwick’s latest European Product Safety and Recall Index report. The 17.4% decrease marks the most significant quarterly decline since Q2 2020, though recall activity remains elevated against historical norms.

Sedgwick’s Product Safety and Recall Index report analyses recall data from across the UK and EU automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries, providing organisations with critical insight into emerging regulatory, operational, and supply chain risk.

Despite the overall reduction, only two industries recorded quarter-over-quarter increases in recall events during Q1 2026. Pharmaceutical recalls rose 36.8%, while automotive events increased by 17.1%.

All other tracked sectors recorded fewer recall events compared to Q4 2025, including food and beverage, medical device, consumer products, consumer electronics, toys, and clothing. Clothing recalls experienced the sharpest decline, down 34.6%, followed by toys, consumer electronics, and food and beverage, which fell 25.4%, 24.7%, and 23.2% respectively. Medical devices recorded the most modest drop at 9.7%.

In addition to the latest recall data, Sedgwick’s Product Safety and Recall Index report also provides essential insights into the evolving regulatory landscape and what product safety stakeholders should anticipate throughout 2026. In the first quarter of 2026, regional conflicts destabilised supply chains and increased oil and transportation costs, adding additional pressure to manufacturers already navigating ongoing tariff uncertainty and broader economic volatility. 

Lawmakers in the EU and UK also advanced new legislation and policy initiatives spanning automated vehicles, country-of-origin claims, allergen labelling, and the safety of food additives. AI remained a central focus of policymakers, particularly regarding its application within food safety insight and pharmaceutical development.

Environmental concerns were another dominant theme as lawmakers worked to address the use of “forever chemicals” and warned companies about improper green claims throughout the supply chain. Amidst all the regulatory changes, the UK and EU continued efforts to position themselves as globally competitive centres for commerce and research. Companies should look for opportunities to leverage new business-friendly policies.

“The reduction in product recall activity should not be interpreted as a sign of reduced regulatory pressure or lower product safety risk,” said Chris Occleshaw, International Product Recall Consultant at Sedgwick. “As we have seen time and time again, recall data can change quickly. Regulators are looking at both product lifecycles and stakeholders across the full supply chain. Companies should continue evaluating their risk profiles, strengthening supply chain visibility, and ensuring their crisis and recall plans remain aligned to today’s operating environment.”

To download the latest European Index report, click here.

The Sedgwick European Product Safety and Recall Index is published every quarter. It is the only report that aggregates and tracks recall data across the EU and UK to help industry stakeholders respond to the regulatory environment, product recalls, and other in-market challenges. For more information, visit www.sedgwick.com/product-recall

About Sedgwick

Sedgwick is the world’s leading risk and claims administration partner, helping clients thrive by navigating the unexpected. The company’s expertise, combined with the most advanced AI-enabled technology available, sets the standard for solutions in claims administration, loss adjusting, benefits administration and product recall. With over 33,000 colleagues and 10,000 clients across 80 countries, Sedgwick provides unmatched perspective, caring that counts, and solutions for the rapidly changing and complex risk landscape. Sedgwick’s majority shareholder is The Carlyle Group; Stone Point Capital LLC, Altas Partners, CDPQ, Onex and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see sedgwick.com.