Sedgwick: European Product Recalls Reached Record High in 2024

European product recalls hit a record high of 14,484 events in 2024, surpassing last year’s record 12,503 events, a new report shows.

Sedgwick Brand Protection’s 2025 European State of the Nation Recall Index report reviews five product categories and three sub-categories: automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer product (electronics, clothing and toys).

The report analyses data from across the U.K. and the European Union.

Related: Sedgwick: U.S. Product Recalls Reached High Level Again Last Year

According to the report, the total number of recalls in the U.K. and E.U. across all the categories has been consistently rising over the past 10 years.

The surge in recalls underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny and evolving safety expectations that manufactures must navigate in today’s complex environment, the report’s authors state.

Each quarter in 2024 surpassed previous records, with the fourth quarter reaching 3,903 recall events, the highest single quarter in the past decade, the report shows.

Related: Sedgwick: US Product Recalls on Pace to Hit 6-Year High

The food and beverage saw more than 5,000 recalls for the first time, a 12.2% year-over-year increase. The leading cause was non-bacterial contamination (40.3% of all recalls), primarily aflatoxins and pesticides.

Undeclared allergens were the second leading cause of food recalls, accounting for a significant number of incidents. Excessive substance levels (such as mercury in seafood) caused 119 recalls. Fruits and vegetables had the most recalls followed by nuts and seeds. The Netherlands led in this category of recall notifications, followed by France and Germany, according to the report.

The consumer products sector saw a 32.9% increase, with 4,376 recalls marking the highest annual total in 11 years. Electronics alone accounted for 815 recalls, surpassing previous records. Fire and electrical hazards were primary reasons for recalls in electronics. Toy recalls were also at an all-time high, highlighting concerns over small parts, choking hazards and chemical risks.

The medical devices category experienced a 11.1% increase in recalls, reflecting ongoing regulatory reforms and stricter compliance measures.. Regulatory delays for MDR and IDVR compliance continue to impact manufactures, leading to longer approval times. The EU approved a two-year extension for certain in vitro diagnostic medial devices, pushing compliance to 2029. Defective implants and diagnostic equipment failures were key recall drivers, according to the report.

Automotive recalls declined 8.0% year-over-year, totaling 669 events, although the fourth quarter saw a 46.3% increase,. Injury risks were the top reasons for recalls (529 events), followed by fire risks (77 events). The U.K. had the highest number of automotive recalls (267), followed by Germany (252) and France (69).

The pharmaceutical sector remained relatively stable, with only one fewer recall compared with 2023, the report shows.

Regulatory Changes in 2024 were centered around fair competition, environmental sustainability and consumer safety:

• The E.U.’s new product safety law, effective December 2024, now includes digital products, AI-based safety measures, and stricter recall notification requirements.
• The E.U.’s AI Act took effect in August 2024, enforcing a risk-based framework for AI in product safety. The E.U.’s AI Act will impact product recalls involving automated systems and smart devices.
• The E.U.’s right to repair directive, enacted in May, mandates that manufactures facilitate cost-effective repairs for consumers, impacting electronics and consumer products.
• Product Liability Changes: The new EU Product Liability Directive modernizes liability rules for digital products, AI and emerging technology.
• Automotive industry reforms: The E.U.’s alternative fuels infrastructure targets to accelerate EV adoption.

Looking ahead to 2025, the report forecasts predicts recall growth due to increasing regulatory demands across multiple sectors. It advices businesses and those who consult businesses to consider enhanced risk managements strategies and adapting to regulatory shifts to ensure compliance.