Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) explained in practical terms
The new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into force on 13.12.2024. Who does it affect and what exactly do you need to do?
Do you sell non-food products to consumers in the EU or Northern Ireland?
Then you must implement the new regulations.
What is the purpose of the Product Safety Regulation?
To better protect consumers from unsafe products.
What regulations do online store operators have to comply with?
They are obliged to provide the following information:
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Central point of contact for communication with safety authorities
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Register in the Safety Gate Portal. This is the central point of contact
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Implement internal procedures to ensure product safety
You must also ensure with your offer that:
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The product or packaging contains
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Contact details of the manufacturer, importer or authorized representative (in the EU) are provided
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Each product must have a type, serial or identification number that is easy to read
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Clearly understandable instructions and safety information are available
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Technical documentation must be available at all times for quick recalls
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Customers must be fully refunded, offered a replacement product or have the product repaired free of charge in the event of a recall
Important: the safety information!
In short, the GPSR brings more responsibility and transparency. Especially when it comes to instructions and safety information, it is often no longer sufficient to link to safety data sheets, for example, which are available as pdf files. The consumer must be able to easily recognize possible dangers, e.g. the hazard pictograms (CLP) (in the online offer). This presents many online store operators with major challenges in terms of product data maintenance for their stores
Example: hazard pictograms
