How We Do It
FOLOUP (Flagging Online Listings of Unsafe Products) is an independent data-driven platform monitoring product listings across online marketplaces.
Detection
We continuously scan public recall databases and online marketplaces for signs of known unsafe products, using automated and manual tools.
Verification
Listings are compared against verified recall records from OPSS, OECD, RAPEX and other official bodies. Suspected listings are flagged for review.
Action & Reporting
We notify online platforms, regulators and stakeholders with documented evidence of non-compliant or recalled products, requesting removal or investigation.
Follow-up & Outcomes
Our system tracks the status of flagged listings. If platforms take no action, we escalate cases and log outcomes for transparency and public safety awareness.
FOLOUP Impact Comparison
This table shows how FOLOUP transforms product safety enforcement from reactive and occasional to proactive and constant.
| Area | Before FOLOUP (Current System) |
With FOLOUP (Enhanced Protection) |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | Periodic checks by OPSS or Trading Standards. Large gaps between inspections. | Continuous, 24/7 scanning of online marketplaces for unsafe products. |
| Detection Speed | Unsafe items often remain online for weeks or months before action. | Listings flagged within hours or days of appearing, enabling rapid removal. |
| Scope | Focused mainly on border checks and physical market inspections. Online monitoring limited. | Nationwide online coverage, targeting multiple marketplaces simultaneously. |
| Relisting Problem | “Whack-a-mole” effect — unsafe products reappear with slight changes to avoid detection. | Ongoing tracking of known products, catching re-listed items quickly. |
| Enforcement Data | Limited real-time intelligence. Regulators rely on ad-hoc reports or marketplace cooperation. | Structured, real-time data on sellers, product links, and repeat offenders. |
| Marketplace Accountability | Largely voluntary action by platforms, inconsistent results. | Documented evidence increases pressure on marketplaces to act decisively. |
| Consumer Protection | Unsafe goods remain available longer, increasing risk of harm. | Faster identification and removal greatly reduces consumer exposure. |
| Resource Use | Heavy demand on already stretched Trading Standards teams. | FOLOUP acts as a force multiplier, enabling regulators to act where it matters most. |
FOLOUP ensures unsafe products are identified and removed at scale, complementing official enforcement and improving consumer safety.
About FOLOUP and Irelco
This site provides impartial, free information to help reduce the circulation of unsafe products online. FOLOUP is operated by Irelco Ltd. We work constructively with regulators, industry bodies and online marketplaces, but we are independent and not a substitute for official regulatory advice or legal counsel.
Content on this site is compiled from reputable sources and reviewed with care. It is intended for guidance only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.
Coverage and jurisdiction
Our guidance focuses on product safety in the United Kingdom. Trading Standards law can differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For business guidance in Northern Ireland, see nibusinessinfo.co.uk.
If you are unsure about your legal responsibilities, contact your local Trading Standards service. You can find contact details using the search tool on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website.
Government support for businesses (official GOV.UK)
The UK Government and the devolved administrations provide free services to help businesses find support and obtain impartial advice,
whether starting up or scaling. Advisers can guide you to relevant schemes and publicly funded programmes in your area and across the country.
Services are available by telephone, email, webchat and social media.
Consumer advice
- England and Wales: Citizens Advice consumer service 0808 223 1133
- Scotland: Advice Direct Scotland 0808 164 6000
- Northern Ireland: Consumerline 0300 123 6262
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© 2025 Irelco Ltd. FOLOUP is a service of Irelco Ltd.
Last updated: 15 August 2025
This page is for general guidance. It does not replace legal advice or official guidance from EU or UK authorities.