Before the Consumer Protection Act.1987 (CPA) was passed by UK parliament the attempts of taking action against manufacturers in regards to liability in negligence was challenging especially for the consumer as all rights were reserved to the customer or purchaser of products. This predicament sparked an increase of attentiveness toward product liability and lead to the implementation of the ‘Directive on Product Liability 1985’ and crucial alterations were made to UK consumer law. ‘Strict liability’ was imposed on the part of manufacturers. This gave rise to additional liability for manufacturers created through CPA in the event that a defect in a product causes damage(s); injury or loss. This is shown in Part 1 of the CPA where the system of strict liability is introduced for defective products to which cause harm.
The key liability requirements under CPA and the European directive is that (i) claimant has suffered damages, (ii) product in question is defective and (iii) harm must be caused by a defect in the product providing that these requirements are met proof of negligence is not applicable on part of the claimant and the producer or manufacturer of the product is in every respect liable for any form of harm caused. Defences that can be used against claims under CPA include; ‘development risk’, ‘contributory negligence’, ‘Volenti non fit injuria’ and ‘Ex turpi causa’.
The impracticalities of CPA are that a defected product must have caused harm as a requirement for a claim. If a product is defective in terms of not fulfilling its expected use however did not cause any damages there is no grounds to which a claim can be made.

........................................................................................................................................................................... Liability for defective products; the Directive passed by the European Community establishes the principle that the producer of a product is liable for damages caused by a defect in his product. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, (2012). Development risk takes into account risk in defects could not be discovered in relative time due to lack of technical and scientific knowledge consequently not permitting methods for detection. Contributory negligence is derived from relative responsibility; when the claimant has contributed to damages suffered as a result of their own fault. Volenti non fit injuria meaning ‘willing assumption of risk’; this defence requires the agreement to waiver any legal consequences of risk or to take part in active participation. Ex turpi causa meaning ‘the illegality defence’; any claim to which comes to pass as a result of the illegal act on part of the claimant will fail (a matter of public policy)