EU Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a new key instrument in the EU product safety legal framework, replacing from 13 December 2024 the current General Product Safety Directive and the Food Imitating Product Directive . It modernizes the EU general product safety framework and addresses the new challenges posed to product safety by the digitalization of our economies.

The GPSR requires that all consumer products on the EU markets are safe and it establishes specific obligations for businesses to ensure it.

It applies to non-food products and to all sales channels. The GPSR provides a safety net for products or risks not regulated in other EU legislation. This safety net function means that EU consumers are always protected against dangerous products, be it now or in the future.

Objectives:

• ensuring the safety of all products, including those linked to new technologies
• addressing challenges posed by the growth of online sales and in particular via online marketplaces;
• ensuring a better enforcement of the rules and more efficient and even market surveillance;
• improving the effectiveness of recalls of dangerous products in the hands of consumers.

What's new?

• Precautionary principle shall be widely applied by all stakeholders for product safety
• Specific product safety obligations for both economic operators and providers of online marketplaces
• Reinforced product traceability requirements
• List of aspects to be taken into account when assessing the safety of products, including for new technologies
• Accident reporting to authorities by businesses
• Reinforced market surveillance rules
• Specific rules on how to handle product safety recalls, including a mandatory recall notice template, and right to remedy for consumers

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What is the General Product Safety Regulation?

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a new central instrument in the EU product safety legal framework and will replace the current General Product Safety Directive and the Food Imitation Products Directive from December 13, 2024. It modernizes the EU's general product safety framework and addresses the new challenges posed by the digitalization of our economy.

The GPSR requires that all consumer products on the EU market are safe and sets out specific obligations for businesses to ensure this.

It applies to non-food products and all distribution channels. The GPSR provides a safety net for products or risks not covered by other EU regulations. This safety feature ensures that EU consumers are always protected from dangerous products – now and in the future.

Goals:
- Ensuring the safety of all products, including those associated with new technologies.
- Addressing the challenges posed by the growth of online sales, particularly through online marketplaces.
- Better enforcement of rules and more efficient and consistent market surveillance.
- Improving the effectiveness of recalls of dangerous products in the hands of consumers.

What's new?
- The precautionary principle should be widely applied by all stakeholders to ensure product safety.
- Specific product safety requirements for both economic operators and online marketplace providers.
- Increased requirements for product traceability.
- List of aspects to be taken into account when assessing product safety, including for new technologies.
- Accident reporting obligations for companies to the authorities.
- Strengthened market surveillance rules.
- Specific rules for handling product safety recalls, including a mandatory template for recall notifications and a legal right to redress for consumers.