While European product recalls continued to increase across five key industries in the second quarter of 2023, Pharma recalls actually decined during that same period. Overall recalls rose 7.8% from the previous quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase and the highest level of recall activity recorded in a single quarter for more than 10 years according Sedgwick's latest edition of the 2023 European product recall index. In contrast, the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors saw recalls decline by 14.0% and 4.2% respectively.
Sedgwick's quarterly report analyses recall data from the European automotive, consumer product, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors. The key contributors to this record-breaking growth in quarter two were the consumer product sector which saw recalls increase by 31.8%; the automotive sector by 12.6%; and the food and beverage sector by 2.3%.
In addition to the latest recall data, Sedgwick's report also reviews recent regulatory activity and provides predictions for what manufacturers across European industries can expect in the second half of 2023. Artificial intelligence (AI) will remain a key focus for regulators in the EU and UK, even as lawmakers advance proposals that take different approaches to regulating the new technology. All sectors will be impacted by the EU's AI Act, but sector-specific guidance for medical devices and consumer products may create confusion around which AI guidelines apply in which circumstances.
The environment and the EU's Green Deal remain regulatory priorities in Europe, with regulators moving to advance circular economies, reduce waste, and promote sustainability. As we're seeing in the U.S., European regulators are also taking steps to protect consumers from unscrupulous practices in secondary markets, especially with online sales.