UKI was injured by a product but can't identify the manufacturer.
You may still claim compensation under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, even if you cannot identify the specific manufacturer — the law allows you to sue the supplier (e.g., retailer) instead.
What the Law Says
The Consumer Protection Act 1987 provides a route to compensation for injuries caused by defective products — even when the manufacturer is unknown.
Under section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, liability for damage caused by a defective product falls not only on the manufacturer but also on any person who supplied the product in the course of business — such as a retailer or importer. This means that if you cannot identify the manufacturer, you can bring a claim against the supplier instead.
The law imposes strict liability: you do not need to prove negligence or fault — only that the product was defective, that it caused your injury, and that the damage meets the statutory thresholds (e.g., personal injury or property damage over £275).
Claims must be brought within three years from the date you knew — or ought reasonably to have known — about the injury, the defect, and the identity of the defendant. This is governed by the Limitation Act 1980, but the CPA 1987 itself does not set a separate time limit.
Statutory TextWhere any damage is caused wholly or partly by a defect in a product, every person to whom subsection (2) applies shall be liable for the damage.
— Consumer Protection Act 1987, s. 2 — Liability for damage caused by defective products
Statutory Text(2) This subsection applies to— (a) the producer of the product; (b) any person who, by putting his name on the product or using a trademark or other distinguishing mark in relation to the product, has held himself out to be the producer of the product; (c) any person who has imported the product into a member State from a place outside the member States in the course of a business carried on by him there; (d) any person who supplied the product to another in the course of a business carried on by him there, if the person so supplying cannot identify— (i) the person who supplied the product to him, or (ii) the person described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above.
— Consumer Protection Act 1987, s. 2(2) — Persons to whom liability applies
What to Do
Gather all evidence of the injury and the product (photos, packaging, receipts, medical reports).
Identify and contact the supplier — e.g., shop, online retailer, or importer — even if you don’t know the manufacturer.
Send a formal letter of claim outlining the injury, defect, and basis of liability under s. 2(2)(d) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
If the supplier denies liability or refuses to cooperate, instruct a solicitor to issue court proceedings — remember, you have 3 years from the date of knowledge.
Consider whether the supplier can trace the manufacturer — they are legally required to provide that information upon request under s. 2(2)(d).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.