The EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into force at the end of 2024. If you're unsure what it means, how it applies to you, or what steps you need to take to comply, don't worry, we’ve put together a simplified guide with everything you need to know.
What is the GPSR?
The GPSR came into effect on 13th December 2024. From this date, businesses that sell goods in the EU must apply the new rules even if they are not physically located there.
The GPSR updates and strengthens existing product safety laws to reflect the realities of today’s market. It replaces the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) in the EU, which is now over 20 years old. Businesses need to meet new requirements to ensure products are safe throughout the entire lifecycle. The GPSD still applies in the UK market for the time being, except for goods sold into the Northern Irish market, see more below.
Key Takeaways
- GSPR applies to companies selling goods into the EU and NI markets and requires a named Responsible Person in the EU to ensure GSPR requirements are met.
- A Responsible Person (RP) can be a named person at a manufacturer, importer, authorised representative or fulfilment centre.
- A Responsible Person is required to hold technical declarations and complete risk assessments about each product.
- Traceability is a core element of GSPR to ensure swift removal of non-compliant or unsafe products from the supply chain.
- GSPR also introduces stricter labelling requirements, including the Responsible Person details. See our example GSPR label here.
- Footwear and textile brands and retailers are included in the scope of GSPR, particularly related to providing safety information, e.g. choking risk, chemical safety, etc. and ensuring a named RP is accessible wherever they retail—online or in store.
Why was the GPSR introduced?
The GPSR reflects today’s product landscape, addressing issues that the older directive no longer covers effectively. The GPSR has been updated to:
- Address risks posed by emerging technologies;
- Introduce clearer requirements for online marketplaces.
- Define responsibilities more precisely throughout the supply chain.
- Implement improved systems for traceability, risk assessment, and product recalls.
Key Changes Introduced by the GPSR
The regulation introduces several new obligations for businesses, including:
A Responsible Person in the EU
Non-EU businesses must appoint a responsible person based in the EU to ensure compliance and act as a point of contact for authorities. This applies to businesses selling into Northern Ireland as well as into EU countries. A Responsible Person is an individual or legal entity established in the EU who takes on specific responsibilities to ensure that products placed on the EU market meet the safety requirements of the GPSR. Think of them as your EU compliance representative; they bridge the gap between your business and EU market surveillance authorities.
What Does the Responsible Person (RP) Do?
The RP must:
- Hold technical documentation and relevant declarations of conformity for the products;
- Cooperate with market surveillance authorities during any investigation or product safety check;
- Assist with product recalls, safety notifications, and corrective actions, if required;
- Verify that product labelling and safety information are compliant with GPSR requirements before a product enters the EU market.
This person or entity must be identifiable on the product, packaging, or accompanying documentation, typically with their name and address.
Who Can Be the Responsible Person?
The GPSR sets out a clear hierarchy for determining who acts as the Responsible Person, depending on where the manufacturer and other parties are based:
Manufacturer based in the EU — If the manufacturer is established within the EU, they automatically take on the role of Responsible Person.
Importer within the EU — If the manufacturer is outside the EU but the importer is EU-based, then the importer becomes the Responsible Person by default.
Authorised Representative — Where neither the manufacturer nor the importer is located in the EU, the manufacturer can formally appoint an authorised representative based in the EU to take on the role. This must be confirmed through a written mandate.
Fulfilment Service Provider (as a last resort) — If no other party assumes the role, a fulfilment service provider (e.g. a warehouse or logistics centre handling storage and delivery) established in the EU will be automatically designated as the Responsible Person, even without a formal agreement.
Risk Assessment
Under the GPSR, businesses are required to carry out a thorough risk assessment to ensure that consumer products are safe before they are placed on the EU market. This involves identifying and evaluating any potential hazards associated with a product during its expected use, including foreseeable misuse. The assessment must consider factors such as the product’s design, materials, intended users (including vulnerable groups like children or the elderly), and the environment in which it will be used.
Manufacturers must also keep detailed documentation of the risk assessment as part of their technical file. This process helps demonstrate due diligence and forms a critical foundation for overall product safety and compliance.
GPSR Traceability Requirements
Traceability is a core component of the GPSR, designed to ensure that unsafe products can be quickly identified and removed from the market.
Businesses must be able to trace products both up and down the supply chain, from manufacturer to distributor and ultimately to the consumer. This means keeping detailed records of where a product came from and where it was supplied.
Each product must carry a traceable identifier, such as a batch number, serial number, or barcode, which links it to technical documentation and safety assessments. These records must be kept for at least 10 years after the product is placed on the market.
Robust traceability systems help authorities and businesses act swiftly in the event of a safety issue or product recall.
Segura’s innovative platform for supply chain transparency, compliance, and reporting can help fulfil traceability requirements for the ESPR. Read more about Segura’s powerful supply chain traceability tools.
GPSR Labelling Requirements
The GPSR introduces clearer and stricter labelling requirements to improve traceability and consumer safety. All consumer products placed on the EU market must include labels that clearly identify the manufacturer or responsible person (with a name and postal address), the product type or model, and a means of tracing the product, such as a batch number, serial number, or other identifier.
Labels must be visible, legible and printed in a language easily understood by consumers in the target EU country. If the product poses potential safety risks, appropriate warnings and safety instructions must also be included on the product, its packaging, or accompanying documentation.
GPSR Label Example: Information Required
Manufacturer: EcoWear Ltd.
123 Green Street, 10115 Berlin, Germany
contact@ecowear.com
Product Name: Organic Cotton Hoodie – Unisex, Size M
Model Number: EW-HOOD-M-2025
Batch No: 542789-C
Warning: Keep away from fire. Wash before first use.
Obligations by Role Under the GPSR
Under the GPSR, each actor in the supply chain has distinct responsibilities to ensure that products placed on the EU market are safe and compliant.
Manufacturers have the most comprehensive set of obligations. They must design and produce products that meet safety requirements, carry out appropriate risk assessments, and ensure each product includes the required technical documentation, labelling and traceability information. Manufacturers must also respond promptly to safety concerns, notify authorities of any product risks, and take corrective actions, including issuing recalls if necessary.
Importers play a vital role when products are manufactured outside the EU. Before placing goods on the EU market, importers must verify that the manufacturer has fulfilled their obligations, including ensuring that a risk assessment has been completed and that the correct labelling and documentation are in place. Importers must also retain copies of technical documentation and cooperate with market surveillance authorities.
Distributors, while not directly responsible for product design or testing, must ensure that products they supply are correctly labelled and include all necessary instructions and safety information. They must not sell products they know (or should know) are non-compliant or unsafe, and they are required to support recall or corrective actions when issues are identified.
E-commerce platforms — particularly online marketplaces that enable third-party sellers — face enhanced responsibilities under the GPSR. They must act quickly to remove unsafe products from sale once notified, cooperate with market surveillance authorities, and put in place internal processes for monitoring and managing safety concerns. While they may not be considered economic operators in all cases, they are still expected to help prevent the circulation of dangerous products online.
GPSR Exemptions: Are Any Products or Situations Excluded?
Yes. While the GPSR applies broadly to all non-food consumer products, there are some exemptions:
Medicines, medical devices, and food products are covered by their own specific EU regulations and are not governed by the GPSR. Second-hand products supplied as antiques or to be repaired/refurbished before use are generally exempt, provided they are clearly labelled as such. Professional-use-only products are excluded if they are not intended for consumers.
Even when exempt from GPSR, products may still need to comply with other EU laws, so it’s important to check the full regulatory landscape.
How Does the GPSR Apply to the Clothing and Textile Industry?
While the GPSR is often associated with electronics or toys, clothing, footwear and textiles are also included. The fashion industry must ensure that consumer garments are safe throughout their lifecycle.
Here’s how GPSR may affect businesses in this sector:
Choking or strangulation risks: Clothing with cords, drawstrings, or small detachable parts (particularly for children) must be designed to prevent accidents.
Chemical safety: Materials must comply with EU standards regarding harmful substances (e.g. azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals).
Labelling and traceability: Clear labelling and documentation are needed to show compliance with safety requirements, including information about materials used and supply chain partners.
E-commerce compliance: Clothing brands selling directly to EU consumers online must provide accurate, accessible safety information on their websites or product pages.
Small brands or independent designers who sell on platforms like Etsy or via their own sites must also comply if they ship to EU or NI consumers.
DOWNLOAD OUR GSPR FACTSHEET
Find more information and receive a set of recommended next steps. Download our GPSR PDF.
How SeguraCan Help
The Segura platform enables retailers to gain end-to-end visibility across their entire supply chain, extending beyond tier one. It helps retailers to identify all relevant actors, track manufacturing processes, and monitor material components to ensure full supply chain transparency. Retailers can use the platform to mandate data collection, ensuring that suppliers upload essential test reports, safety certificates, and internal test results, all of which can be managed and approved directly within the system. Segura’s robust data capture and reporting features help retailers pinpoint gaps that could lead to non-compliance with regulations such as GPSR.
For more information and to check the latest updates, please refer directly to the EU regulation — GPSR.
