Ebay is changing its rules to allow third parties to take down listings that could be considered a safety risk or in breach of consumer rights.
The online marketplace, which has more than 27million customers worldwide, has partnered with 50 trading authorities to help filter through its 1.3billion listings.
The company has been under pressure to take action for several years, but due to the sheer volume of sellers on the site - as anyone can register to trade on it - often rogue items will slip through the net.
Investigators have previously found unsafe electrical appliances, toys, and batteries for sale on a wide range of online marketplaces - including Amazon and the Chinese site Wish.
Under new plans to crack down on dangerous items, the online retailer said it has teamed up with Westminster City Council Trading Standards, Ofcom, the Office for Product and Safety Standards (OPSS) to tackle suspicious sellers.
It means third parties will be able to log on to a portal where they can take down listings from the marketplace themselves - providing they have evidence the item poses a risk to consumer safety.
For example Ofcom will be able to moderate certain types of wireless radio equipment that could interfere with UK signals.
Allowing it to monitor listings means it can block devices which might affect connection for customers in the UK.
The companies will be allowed to withdraw items without needing approval from eBay or the seller.
Ebay told The Mirror the new measures will speed up the removal of potentially fraudulent or harmful listings.
Wolfgang Weber, at eBay, said: “There are many challenges which come with policing a marketplace, and while this has always been a priority for us, teamwork between the government, authorities, and marketplaces is needed to ensure consumers can stay safe shopping online”.
Murray Lambell, eBay general manager, added: “Marketplaces should be taking their responsibility for consumer safety seriously, but collaboration with authorities is vital, and we are proud to be beginning the year with a focus on this.
“We hope that other players in the industry will follow suit and we can tackle the issue as an industry”.
