March 13, 2025
Sedgwick brand protection releases latest Australian Recall Index report
SYDNEY, 14March 2025 – Australian recall actions increased 14% from the first half (H1) of 2024 to the second half (H2), according to the latest Sedgwick brand protection Australian Recall Index report. There were 686 recall actions in H2 2024 across five key industries, compared to 602 recalls in H1. For the whole year, there were 1,288 recalls in 2024, an increase of 7.1% over the 1,203 events recorded in 2023.
Sedgwick’s biannual Australian report analyses product safety and recall data from the Australian automotive, consumer products, food and drink, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. It also includes data on defect corrections, defect alerts, and hazard alerts for the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. This edition of the report not only includes H2 data but also provides a comprehensive year-in-review analysis of 2024 recall activity, offering insight into emerging risks shaping the product safety landscape.
Recall activity increased across all five sectors analysed in the report. The automotive sector experienced the biggest increase, with recalls rising 33.6% from H1 to H2 2024. The consumer product sector followed with a 14.9% increase, while recalls in the medical device sector grew 8.7%. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical and food industries experienced more modest growth, with recalls rising 4.3% and 2.6% respectively.
In addition to the latest recall data and analysis, Sedgwick’s Recall Index report provides insights into current regulatory activity and perspectives on what stakeholders across Australian industries should be following. Throughout 2024, sustainability was a top priority for regulators with several agencies launching initiatives to help companies reduce their impact on the environment and increase compliance with relevant legislation. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Securities and Investments Commission both took legal action against companies for making misleading greenwashing claims.
Regulators of the food sector focused on transparency and fair transactions, including conducting a review of the Food and Grocery Code to make changes that would ensure farmers and consumers are treated fairly by grocers. There were also big changes for the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) worked to implement a series of medical device reforms, such as new classifications for software-based medical device regulations. The TGA also rolled out its updated Uniform Recall Procedure for Therapeutic Goods, which emphasises the need to quickly disseminate information regarding defective products to the public.
“While Australian businesses contend with an increasing number of product recalls, they must also adapt to an evolving regulatory landscape,” said Chris Harvey, Senior Vice President of Brand Protection for Sedgwick. “In some cases, regulators are working to align Australian rules with those of other jurisdictions, while in other instances they are tailoring rules to meet specific market needs. These regulatory changes present both opportunities and risks for businesses. Strengthening existing risk management strategies with the support of expert partners and a focus on proactive planning can be pivotal in helping businesses protect their reputation and their operations.”
To download the H2 2024 Australian Recall Index report, click here.
The Sedgwick brand protection Australian Recall Index is published twice a year. It is the only report that aggregates and tracks Australian recall data to help industry stakeholders navigate the regulatory environment, product recalls, and other in-market challenges. For more information, visit https://www.sedgwick.com/brandprotection.
About Sedgwick
Sedgwick is a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting and technology-enabled business solutions. The company provides a broad range of resources tailored to clients’ specific needs in casualty, property, marine, benefits, brand protection and other lines. At Sedgwick, caring counts; through the dedication and expertise of over 33,000 colleagues across 80 countries, the company takes care of people and organizations by mitigating and reducing risks and losses, promoting health and productivity, protecting brand reputations, and containing costs that can impact performance. 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.
