In today’s global marketplace, the risk of product recall has never been greater.
Increasing regulatory scrutiny, pressured margins, complex supply chains and changing technology can lead to an increase in the occurrence and severity of product recalls.
Some product defect risk can be mitigated using technology during production, but errors can affect even the most prestigious, global product manufacturers and brands.
Crisis planning and high-standard quality controls are key to mitigating the risk of product recall.
Insurance cannot replace effective business governance, but product recall insurance can support and complement an effective risk management strategy by minimising the financial repercussions of a product crisis and enabling brand recovery.
Contacts
How can product recall insurance help you?
Product recall insurance can help a company to protect:
Shareholder value
Product recalls can have a significant effect on a company’s balance sheet, causing a cash shortage that can eliminate profit.
We’ll work with you to make sure that product recall protection is embedded in your wider risk management strategy so that you meet your fiduciary duty to protect shareholder value.
Brand and reputation
When risk management systems and controls do fail, what matters is how you respond and manage the event.
We’ll help you ensure your investment in risk transfer includes any crisis support you may need to respond to crises, protect and rehabilitate your brand.
Costs expenditure
Whether incurred by your company or a third party such as a direct customer. The costs to cover labour, transportation and disposal due to a product recall can be expensive. A product recall policy would typically cover these types of costs
Crisis planning and high-standard quality controls are key to mitigating the risks of a product recall.”Louise Dorrian | Head of Product RecallWillis Towers Watson
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What can be covered?
Cover for any threat or connected series of threats to commit malicious product temper, for the purpose of demanding extortion costs, communicated to the insured.
Design or manufacturing error.
Provides an insured with coverage for actual or threatened alteration or adulteration of any insured product(s) which is intentional, malicious and illegal.
Provides coverage for the insured where a government authority or safety agency orders or mandates a recall.
Related Industries
Key coverage comparison
Please note below is a generalised comparison tool that selects a variety of covers where the triggers may be similar, but where discussion of the differences regarding cover will help understanding of our offering.
There are many derivatives of these wordings; it would not be possible to include every eventuality. For this reason, while we have made every effort to ensure this is a fair comparison there may be examples where the below assessment is not accurate in some areas. This is a guide only and professional advice should be sought from the appropriate professional before making any decisions based on this comparison.
Recall expenses
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| Recall costs | ✔ | *✔ |
| Physical/chemical analysis of product to establish cover | ✔ | ✖ |
| Inspection costs | ✔ | ✖ |
| Destruction costs | ✔ | ✖ |
| Product replacement costs | ✔ | ✖ |
| Slotting and re-slotting fees | ✔ | ✖ |
Rehabilitation of brand
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| Public relations assistance | ✔ | ✖ |
| Promotional offers | ✔ | ✖ |
| Sales and marketing expenses | ✔ | ✖ |
| Point of sales notices | ✔ | ✖ |
| Advertising costs | ✔ | ✖ |
Business interruption
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Months loss of gross profit | ✔ | ✖ |
| Overheads including wages/salaries and depreciation of plant and machinery | ✔ | ✖ |
| Clean down and repair of machinery or plant | ✔ | ✖ |
| Subcontracting of manufacturing | ✔ | ✖ |
| All affected products included | ✔ | ✖ |
Consultancy advice
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| Crisis consultancy with no deductible | ✔ | ✖ |
Third party liability
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| Resulting from product liability litigation | ✖ | ✔ |
Triggers
| Coverage | Specialised product recall insurance | Extended product liability |
|---|---|---|
| Cover for product that 'would' cause bodily injury or damage | ✔ | ✖ |
| Recall ordered by government authority | ✔ | ✖ |








