The short version
- The GPSR applies since 13 December 2024 to almost all non-food consumer products, including existing stock.
- Every product needs a responsible person with an address in the EU, visible in the listing.
- Manufacturer, EU contact, warnings in the local language: the three most common warning letter triggers.
Affects you if you sell physical products to consumers, whether in your own shop or on marketplaces.
01What the GPSR regulates
The General Product Safety Regulation replaces the old product safety directive from 2001. It covers consumer products that have no special rules of their own, and explicitly also imported and used goods. There is no grandfathering for old listings.
02The mandatory details in a listing
- Name and contact details of the manufacturer.
- If the manufacturer sits outside the EU: the responsible person in the EU with an address.
- Product identification such as type, model or serial number, where available.
- Warnings and safety information in the language of the destination country.
- Meaningful product images.
03The most common mistakes
- The details are on the packaging but not in the online listing.
- Imported goods without a named responsible person in the EU.
- Warnings in English only.
- Old listings that never got updated.
- Marketplace listings forgotten, although the same duties apply there.
04When something happens
You report safety incidents through the EU Safety Business Gateway. Recalls must reach affected customers directly. Another reason to keep order and contact data clean.
What you can do now
- Review all listings for manufacturer details and the EU contact, including old ones.
- Store warnings per destination country in the right language.
- For imported goods, clarify who the responsible person in the EU is.
- Define a process for safety incidents and recalls before you need it.
Sources
Carefully researched and kept up to date, but not legal advice. For binding questions, talk to a law firm.
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