Last updated: 28.11.2025
General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988
The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, effective from 13 December 2024, replaces the former General Product Safety Directive and introduces a unified legal framework applicable to all consumer products sold on the European market, including via any online interface.
This regulation imposes clear and detailed obligations on all economic operators involved in the supply chain – manufacturers, importers, authorised representatives, and fulfilment service providers – aiming to ensure consumer protection, product compliance, and traceability.
Each product must be associated with a responsible economic operator, defined as a natural or legal person established in the EU, who oversees product safety, documentation, and cooperation with national authorities.
The GPSR applies horizontally across sectors and requires that products meet general safety requirements, including compliance with relevant European safety standards, proper product identification, and effective risk mitigation. The regulation also strengthens enforcement mechanisms to ensure the same safety standards across both traditional and online distribution channels.
General Product Safety Regulation GPSR – Key Business Implications for online sales
Obligation to Appoint an EU-Based Economic Operator
Products covered by the GPSR must have an economic operator established within the European Union U responsible for specific compliance tasks, as outlined in Article 16 of the regulation. This includes manufacturers, importers, authorized representatives, or fulfillment service providers.
Mandatory Risk Assessment and Technical Documentation
Before placing a product on the EU market, manufacturers are required to conduct an internal risk analysis and compile technical documentation demonstrating product safety, in accordance with Article 9(2). This documentation must be maintained and made available to market surveillance authorities upon request.
Enhanced Traceability Requirements
Economic operators must ensure that products bear information identifying the product and the economic operator, including the name, registered trade name or trademark, and contact details, as specified in Article 9(5) and Article 16(3). This information should be affixed to the product, its packaging, or accompanying documentation.
Obligations for Online Marketplaces
Providers of online marketplaces are subject to specific responsibilities under Article 22, including verifying that products offered through their platforms comply with the GPSR, cooperating with market surveillance authorities, and ensuring that consumers receive necessary safety information.
Consumer Remedies in Case of Product Recalls
In the event of a product recall, economic operators must offer consumers effective, cost-free, and timely remedies, such as repair, replacement, or refund, as detailed in Article 37.
Cooperation with Market Surveillance Authorities
Economic operators are obligated to cooperate with market surveillance authorities, providing necessary information and taking appropriate corrective actions to mitigate risks associated with their products, as per Article 15.
Exemptions from the Scope of the GPSR
The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 sets out a number of exemptions where the regulation does not apply. These exemptions cover product categories that are already regulated under sector-specific legal frameworks. The regulation does not apply to:
- Medicinal products for human or veterinary use,
- Food and feed,
- Living plants and animals,
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and microorganisms used in contained environments,
- Animal-derived products and by-products,
- Plant protection products,
- Transport equipment operated by a service provider,
- Low-risk aircraft,
- Antiques,
- Products clearly marked as intended to be repaired or reconditioned prior to use by the consumer.
These exemptions reflect the intent to avoid duplication of existing EU legislation and ensure regulatory clarity. Products falling under these categories remain subject to their respective regulatory regimes and safety oversight.
What is the Consumer Safety Gateway portal?
The Consumer Safety Gateway is part of the European Commission’s Safety Gate platform, which provides free and open access to selected data on unsafe products identified by national market surveillance authorities across the EU.
The platform allows affected consumers to report unsafe products purchased either online or in physical stores within the EU internal market – including Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein – if these products caused an incident despite being used under reasonably foreseeable conditions.
Reports submitted through the portal are forwarded directly to the responsible national authority. However, incidents related to food, pharmaceuticals, or medical products are excluded and cannot be reported via this tool.
To access the platform, a consumer must first create an account in the European Commission Authentication Service system. After clicking the “Get Started” button on the portal’s homepage, the system will guide the user through the registration process.
The tool reflects the EU’s commitment to strict product safety legislation, including clear and detailed rules regarding safety aspects and the general safety requirement laid down in the relevant European standards. It helps ensure compliance and strengthens communication between consumers and the responsible person or competent authority in case of breaches of health and safety requirements.
U’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): A New Era of Consumer Protection
For businesses active in eCommerce or distance selling, aligning operations with the General Product Safety Regulation is essential to maintaining access to the EU consumer market and avoiding liability. Compliance with applicable safety requirements, including proper documentation, product safety assessments, and the traceability of goods, is not optional – it is now a core component of product strategy and legal risk management.
Failure to meet the obligations set out in the GPSR may result in significant consequences, including financial penalties, product recalls, and reputational harm.
By adhering to the regulation’s structured compliance framework, businesses can better meet reasonable consumer expectations, address safety concerns proactively, and ensure consistency with EU safety standards in a legally secure manner.
