Welcome to BluNiche UK, the only pure-play UK regional Product Recall Insurance underwriting operation. We deliver niche, specialty Product Recall insurance coverages to UK businesses.

BluNiche UK, led by specialist, market-leading underwriter Ed Mitchell, brings new Product Recall insurance options for UK domiciled companies.

Why Buy Product Recall Insurance?

Key drivers behind the growth in Product Recall insurance:

Regulation

As the regulatory risk environment continues to evolve in the UK, companies making, handling and selling products come under constant scrutiny. The challenge of keeping on top of regulatory requirements, as well as the severe financial and reputational consequences relating to recalls when things go wrong, presents a significant risk, but one with which BluNiche UK can help.

Contractual requirements

Along the product manufacturing supply chain there is an increasing trend of requiring suppliers, manufacturers and distributors to have Product Recall insurance in place in order to satisfy their contractual supply agreements. BluNiche UK products are designed to address these requirements.

Risk awareness

A previously misunderstood risk, the awareness and understanding of the potentially devastating consequences to a company’s bottom line of a product recall is growing. Businesses also increasingly recognize the challenges presented in managing the risks associated with product recalls . BluNiche UK’s products provide expert advice to help clients better understand and manage these risks.

Products

• Product Contamination
  Product Contamination Insurance for companies manufacturing, handling, distributing and selling topical and ingestible products. Sectors include food, beverage, restaurants, over the counter pharmaceuticals (OTC), cosmetics, personal hygiene, tobacco and pet food.

  Coverage for Accidental and Malicious Contaminations and Product Extortion. These policies include coverage for Government Recall, Adverse Publicity, Packaging Defect and Economic Adulteration, as well as losses covered such as recall, replacement and destruction costs; business interruption and rehabilitation expenses; pre- and post-incident crisis management service. There are also coverage extensions available.

• Auto Recall
  Automotive Component Parts Recall Insurance for component manufacturers from Tier One to Tier Four supplying through the chain to automotive and commercial vehicle OEMs.Coverage for Insured’s liability for recalls caused by product safety and guarantee (failure to perform as intended) defects. These policies include liability for recall and replacement costs, including labour expenses, third party financial loss and defence costs. They can also extend to cover first party costs.
• Product Defect
  Consumer Goods Product Recall Insurance for end-product consumer goods manufacturers and distributors. Aimed at the medical devices and consumer goods sectors (outside topical and ingestible products), primarily in the FMCG space.Coverage for Manufacturing Error, Government Recall, Malicious Tampering and Product Extortion. This includes recall, replacement and destruction costs; business interruption and rehabilitation expenses; pre- and post-incident crisis management service. Coverage can be extended for Product Guarantee trigger and third party financial loss including defence costs.
• Product Guarantee and Recall Liability
  Product Recall and Guarantee Insurance and A&B Product Recall insurance. Similar to Auto Recall coverage but intended for component parts manufacturers and distributors outside the automotive industry. Aimed at components intended for use in consumer and non-industrial end products.Coverage for third party liability for recalls caused by product safety and guarantee (failure to perform as intended) defects. Includes liability for recall and replacement costs, including labour expenses, third party financial loss and defence costs. Also extends to cover first party recall costs and can include replacement expenses and business interruption.
• Packager’s Protection
  First and third Party Recall Insurance designed specifically for companies in the packaging sector supplying primarily into the food and beverage, topical and ingestible and consumer goods industry. Sectors include but are not limited to cardboard and plastic packaging materials, caps, pouches, bottles and cans.Coverage for first party recall costs and third party liability for recalls caused by the packaging product’s defects. Product Safety, Impaired Property, Government Recall triggers. Product Guarantee trigger also available. Can be extended to provide a sublimit for Manufacturers Coverage for first party recall costs and third party liability for recalls caused by the packaging product’s defects. This includes Product Safety, Impaired Property, Government Recall triggers. A Product Guarantee trigger coverage option is also available. Coverage can be extended to provide a sublimit for Manufacturers E&O.

Why Use BluNiche UK?

We’re 100% focused on UK business and on delivering quality insurance products with bespoke coverage solutions where required.

From our office near Birmingham, we support independent regional brokers as well as network and national brokers. Our specialist coverage is aimed only at UK domiciled risks, including those with worldwide exports.

With A-Rated Capacity of GBP5m, our data-led underwriting approach reflects not only the drivers in buyers’ decisions but directly addresses the coverage requirements of UK companies.

• A strong focus on coverage and detail
  Many buyers choose to take out Product Recall insurance because they are required to do so in contracts with their customers. Standard policies, however, may be unsuitable or cost prohibitive. BluNiche UK works with brokers and insureds to address the detail of the contractual requirement and seeks to provide policy coverage that fits relevant exposures.
• Broad industry and coverage appetite
  BluNiche UK can offer more than the main market coverages for the food and beverage and automotive component sectors. We insure a broad range of product industries through offering a wide range of coverages on both a first and third party basis.

Product Recall and Crisis Management Consultants

Product Recall and Crisis Consulting services are a key element of Product Recall Insurance coverages. At BluNiche UK many of our policies include both pre- and post-incident Recall and Crisis Management services of RQA Group. RQA is a leading, global Product Recall consultancy covering multiple industry sectors.

Under a BluNiche UK Policy RQA’s services are made available to help you prepare for a recall event from running training sessions to drawing up a template plan of action so that you know, in advance, what to do in a recall situation.

In the event that you do have a problem RQA are contactable via a dedicated BluNiche UK hotline, open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. RQA will be available to help you through the necessary steps involved in managing a recall, providing the necessary resources from initial testing through to practical measures to protect your brand and reputation.

Claims

In the event that you discover an actual or potential Insured Event under your Policy, please contact RQA Group for assistance in the first instance.

RQA’s response services are included in your policy and no Policy excess applies so there is no cost to you, even if it turns out that the incident falls under the Policy excess. RQA will be available to support you through the issue, deploying necessary resource depending on the situation and will help you navigate the recall with the aim of minimizing any potential business disruption.

Step one: call RQA Group

RQA runs a 24/7 telephone hotline for BluNiche UK policy holders:
01204 684 037
www.rqa-group.com

Step two: make a claim

Claims under BluNiche UK policies are administered by Chaucer Group, the insurer of your policy. If you do need to submit a claim, please contact Chaucer Group in accordance with your Policy conditions and as follows:

• Name: Dan Lettington, Claims Counsel
• Telephone: (Direct): +44 (0)202 7105 8130
• Telephone: (Mobile): +44 (0)7715 801823
• Email: ELG-CrisisManagementClaims@chaucergroup.com

Complaints

We are dedicated to providing a high quality service and we want to ensure that we maintain this at all times.

If you have any questions or concerns about the policy or the handling of a claim please contact your broker through whom this policy was arranged.

If you wish to make a complaint in respect of your policy or your claim, you can do so at any time by referring the matter to:

Ed Mitchell
BluNiche Risk Services Limited
Open Space Business Centre, Blackmore Vale Road,
Willow End Park, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NN
Telephone: +44 (0) 7825 032526
E-mail: ed.mitchell@bluniche.com

If you remain dissatisfied after we have considered your complaint, or you have not received a decision by the time we have taken eight (8) weeks overall to consider your complaint, you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service at:

Exchange Tower
London
E14 9SR
E-mail: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

The Financial Ombudsman Service is an independent service in the UK for settling disputes between consumers and businesses providing financial services and can look into most complaints from consumers and small businesses where eligible. For more information, contact the FOS on the above number or address, or view their website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Alternatively, as Chaucer Insurance Company DAC is based in Ireland, you remain dissatisfied after we have considered your complaint, or you have not received a decision by the time we have taken forty (40) business days overall to consider your complaint, you may raise the matter with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO), an independent body that adjudicates on complaints, at the:

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

The Insurer is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS (depending on the type of insurance and the circumstances of your claim) if your insurer is unable to meet their financial obligations under this policy. A claim under this type of insurance is covered for 90% of the claim with no upper limit.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme
10th Floor
Beaufort House
15 St Botolph Street
London,
EC3A 7QU
Telephone: 0800 678 1100 or 0207 741 4100
Website: https://www.fscs.org.uk