European recall activity reaches new highs amid regulatory reform and market complexity

LONDON – European product recall activity increased for the seventh consecutive year in 2025. According to Sedgwick’s 2026 State of the Nation Product Safety and Recall Index report, a total of 15,608 recalls were recorded in 2025, surpassing the previous record of 14,484 events set in 2024. 

Sedgwick’s quarterly report on European product safety and recall trends provides in-depth analysis of recall activity and regulatory changes across the automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors. This special State of the Nation edition offers a comprehensive year-in-review analysis of 2025 recall data and product safety trends, as well as a deeper dive into fourth quarter developments. 

Recall volumes increased year-over-year across every European sector except medical device. The automotive industry and key consumer product sub-sectors were particularly notable. Both recorded increases of more than 30% compared to 2024 and reached 10-year highs. The food and beverage and pharmaceutical sectors saw six-year highs, despite experiencing more moderate increases of 1% and 12%, respectively. While the medical device industry was the only one to experience a year-over-year decline, recall activity in 2025 remained the second-highest level on record, trailing only 2024.

In addition to recall data and analysis, the State of the Nation Product Safety and Recall Index delivers essential insights into the regulatory developments that shaped 2025 and perspectives on what product safety stakeholders should anticipate for 2026. In 2025, regulating the development and use of AI was a focus for both the UK and EU. Authorities considered how to promote innovation while ensuring the safety of AI-enabled products and software. The two jurisdictions also continued to advance significant overhauls to their life sciences sectors, including updates to medical device regulations and strategies to boost research activities.

Food and beverage companies may see new reporting requirements and updates to labelling and advertising rules as part of two big UK initiatives. However, an EU-UK sanitary and phytosanitary agreement could provide some relief from the need for certificates and checks on animals, plants, and related products traded across borders.

EU and UK regulators reevaluated several recently passed rules with an eye toward simplifying compliance for companies, including around environmental commitments. While U.S. tariffs and UK and EU responses have created challenges, both jurisdictions continued to work on plans to boost their own competitiveness on the global stage. In 2026, authorities are likely to continue promoting innovation and research across sectors to remain competitive.

“European businesses are navigating an era of record-breaking product recalls and rapidly evolving regulations,” cautioned Chris Occleshaw, International Product Recall Consultant at Sedgwick. “While regulators are trying to ease the burdens on companies and streamline compliance, there are still areas where multiple rules overlap or extend liability for the full product life cycle. These factors create uncertainty and complexity. Companies must invest in comprehensive compliance programs, closely monitor regulatory developments, and continually strengthen product safety standards and post market surveillance processes.”

To download the 2026 State of the Nation European Product Safety and Recall Index, click here.

Sedgwick publishes its European Product Safety and Recall Index every quarter. It is the only report that aggregates and tracks recall data and regulatory changes across multiple government agencies and industries to help stakeholders respond to product recall trends, dynamic legislation, 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.