EU Regulation 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR) replaced the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) from December 13, 2024. The GPSR applies to all consumer products placed on the EU market that are not covered by sector-specific EU harmonisation legislation.
Key Requirements
The GPSR requires: all consumer products to be safe; manufacturers to conduct risk assessments; products to carry a unique identifier (traceability); economic operators to maintain records; online marketplaces to implement product safety measures; and market surveillance authorities to have enhanced enforcement powers.
Economic Operator Obligations
Manufacturers must: conduct a risk assessment; prepare technical documentation; affix a unique identifier to the product; provide clear instructions and safety information; register products in the EU Safety Gate portal (for certain categories); and report unsafe products to authorities. Importers and distributors have obligations to verify manufacturer compliance and to cooperate with market surveillance authorities.
Online Marketplaces
Online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Alibaba) have new obligations under the GPSR: to designate a responsible person in the EU; to implement product safety measures; to cooperate with market surveillance authorities; and to remove unsafe products from their platforms. This is a significant expansion of online marketplace liability.