GPSR regulation – what is it?

What is the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)?

The European Union is making ground-breaking changes to product safety. The new legislation, known as the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), aims to protect consumers and raise the quality standards of goods placed on the market. GPSR replaces the existing General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) of 2001, introducing more stringent and comprehensive rules adapted to modern market realities.

The regulation is directly applicable in all EU member states, meaning that it does not require additional implementation at national level. This is a key change that ensures uniform rules across the European Union, regardless of individual countries’ local regulations.

GPSR covers all non-food products, such as toys, electronics, furniture or textiles, and the aim of the regulation is to ensure that all these goods are safe for consumers, both in traditional sales channels and on online platforms

Find out what you need to comply with when selling to Germany: LUCID in 2024: Understanding Registration and Costs

Who is covered by the GPSR regulations?

The GPSR Regulation applies to all companies marketing non-food products. In principle, any business that produces, imports or sells such products in the EU must comply with the new requirements. This applies to small companies, local shops as well as international giants.

In particular, the GPSR regulations are aimed at:

• Manufacturers: they must ensure that their products meet safety standards and are appropriately labelled.
• Importers: are responsible for marketing products from outside the EU, which must comply with the regulations
• Distributors and dealers: they are obliged to monitor and make sure that the products they sell meet all GPSR requirements, including those relating to safety.

Also new to GPSR is the requirement to have a person responsible for the product within the EU. Each product must have a named person or entity responsible for its compliance, and their details must be available on the packaging, product or in the instructions for use.

Why is GPSR important in online sales?

One of the main reasons for the introduction of GPSR is the rapid growth of e-commerce. In recent years, an increasing number of products have been sold online, creating new challenges in ensuring the safety of goods. The GPSR regulations are adapted to this reality by introducing specific requirements for online sellers.

Online sales often include products from different countries, not always meeting EU safety standards. The new rules oblige sales platforms and e-stores to:

• Provide warnings and product safety information prominently on the offer page (e.g. in the product description, in pictures or in downloadable instructions).
• Ensure that each product has appropriate GPSR-compliant documentation, including information about the responsible person, warnings and a serial number or other identifier to allow easy identification

What are the key requirements of GPSR?

The GPSR regulation introduces a number of key requirements that businesses must meet. Here are the most important of these:

• Responsible person in the EU: Each product must have a designated person or company responsible for its compliance. Information about this person must be visible on the product, packaging and documentation (e.g. instruction manual).
• Warnings and safety information: Each product must have visible safety warnings and information on proper use on the product, packaging and in the instructions. These warnings must be available in the language of the country in which the product is sold.
• Marking and identification: Products must be marked with a serial number, batch number or other identifier that allows them to be traced. GTINs and EAN numbers are the most commonly used identifiers .
• Product documentation: Traders must provide complete documentation, which includes, inter alia, information sheets, assembly instructions, user guides and safety information.

By when do you need to make changes?

The new GPSR regulations will come into force on 13 December 2024. This means that all traders must bring their products into compliance with the new requirements by that date. This is a key date, after which sub-standard products may be withdrawn from the market and traders may face sanctions.

It is worth noting that adapting to GPSR takes time – especially for companies that offer a wide range of products. It is therefore advisable to start preparing now to avoid last-minute problems with adapting to the new regulations.

How to prepare for the implementation of GPSR in practice?

Adapting to the requirements of GPSR requires appropriate organisational and technical measures. Here are some steps that can help entrepreneurs prepare for the new regulations:

• Review current procedures: Check that your products comply with current safety standards and that they have the appropriate markings and warnings.
• Select a responsible person: Make sure you have a designated person or company in the EU responsible for the compliance of your products with Its details must be visible on the packaging and in the product documentation.
• Update documentation: Upload complete product information to the relevant sales platforms, including instructions, information sheets and safety warnings.
• Customise online offerings: For online sales, ensure that all safety information is visible on the product details page and that warnings are available in the language of the country where the
• Monitor regulatory changes: New regulations are part of the EU’s broader product safety strategy, so keep an eye on further developments in the

For more details, check out the 3-minute video on GSPR from Amazon:

Summary

The introduction of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is an important step towards increasing consumer protection on the EU market, especially in an era of rapid growth in online trade. The new regulations impose strict requirements regarding safety, documentation and product liability. As an online shop, you have until 13 December 2024 to adapt your operations to the new regulations. Early preparation and monitoring of legal changes are key to avoid penalties and ensure compliance with GPSR.

If you would like to learn more about the GPSR and who can help you with this, please contact us!