EU - GPSR

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) will come into effect on 13 December 2024.

The GPSR is an EU-wide regulation designed to ensure the safety of consumer products. It not only applies to consumer goods but also extends to professional products that may be used by consumers.

The primary objective of the GPSR is to ensure that only safe products are made available in the EU member countries, thereby reducing the risk of harm to consumers. It applies to a wide range of products sold both offline and online, through any sales channel. The regulation replaces previous national laws, establishing a unified product safety standard across all EU member states. The GPSR covers various products, including electronics, toys, household items, and cosmetics.

Who is affected by the GPSR?

Several key players in e-commerce are impacted by the GPSR:

  • Manufacturers: Must ensure their products meet all safety standards and provide relevant safety information.
  • Sellers and Distributors: Must display the contact details of the manufacturer or the designated responsible person within the EU, along with any necessary warnings and safety information.
  • Online Marketplaces: Are responsible for verifying compliance among sellers, facilitating product recalls, and notifying consumers of any safety issues.
  • Vendors: Must ensure that the products they supply are compliant, safe for consumers, and meet GPSR requirements before being listed or sold to distributors or end customers.

Each party has specific obligations, and businesses need to understand and meet these responsibilities to remain compliant.

Ecommerce Merchants

If you are selling items sourced from manufacturers or distributors that are already GPSR-compliant, you should generally be fine.

However, if you have an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or create your own items, you are obligated under the guidelines to appoint a "Responsible Person" within the EU to ensure compliance with GPSR requirements.

For more details, please refer to the EU portal here:
European Commission Portal

There are businesses in the EU that offer services to act as the "Responsible Person" for merchants. Some service providers you may explore include: