Product recall numbers fell 14% in the first half as fewer vehicle problems were recorded.

The Australian Product Safety and Recall Index, compiled by Sedgwick, found 394 recalls in the half, down from 460 in the second half of last year.

Sedgwick collects government data on the motor, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries to prepare the report.

It notes regulatory changes in the first half brought Australia more in line with other major economies. New rules included those around autonomous emergency braking in vehicles and enhanced cybersecurity for smart devices and toys.

In March the Therapeutic Goods Administration introduced a new procedure for product recalls, alerts and corrections, which may lead to more actions on drugs and medical devices.

“Manufacturers and suppliers should expect risks to continue increasing as Australian regulators work to align their rules with the frameworks used in other jurisdictions,” Sedgwick international product recall consultant Mark Buckingham said.

“Businesses will need to remain agile to keep ahead of evolving regulations. It will be important to update their recall and incident response plans to ensure they align with the new rules.”

Mr Buckingham says recall numbers usually increase in the second half of the year.