I am a small handmade seller does GPSR apply to me?

Yes, GPSR can apply to you even if you are a small handmade seller. The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) applies based on whether you place a consumer product on the EU market, not on your business size or sales volume. If you sell to EU consumers online, you may need to meet safety, information, and traceability rules, and non-EU sellers typically need an EU-based Responsible Person.

Does GPSR apply to small handmade sellers and micro-businesses?

GPSR applies to consumer products offered to EU consumers regardless of whether you are a micro-business, a hobby seller, or a handmade brand. The trigger is placing a product on the EU market or making it available there, including through distance sales, not your company size.

Handmade or low-volume production is not a blanket exemption. GPSR covers consumer products broadly, including new and used items, and it can also cover products originally intended for professional use if they are likely to be used by consumers. GPSR also works as a “safety net”: if your product is already covered by specific EU harmonisation legislation (laws that may require CE marking), those rules address most risks, and GPSR fills gaps for risks not covered.

If your product category has its own EU safety law, follow that first, then apply GPSR to any remaining safety aspects.
If no product-specific EU law applies, GPSR is usually the main EU safety framework.

What are my GPSR obligations if I sell handmade products to EU customers online?

Your core GPSR obligation is to place only safe products on the EU market and to be able to show why they are safe. For handmade sellers, this usually means considering foreseeable use and misuse, documenting hazards, and providing clear user information.

Practical obligations commonly include:

Product safety and risk assessment: identify hazards (for example, choking, sharp edges, flammability, chemical exposure, electrical risks) and reduce them.
Traceability: keep product identification and production details (model, type, batch, or serial number, where applicable).
Instructions and warnings in the languages of the EU countries where you target sales.
Complaint handling and monitoring safety feedback, then taking corrective action when needed.
Accident reporting: obligations can apply under GPSR when you become aware of certain safety-related events, depending on the situation and your role in the supply chain.
Cooperation with authorities: provide information and documents when requested by national market surveillance authorities.

If you are a non-EU seller targeting EU consumers, you generally need an EU-based Responsible Person as the required EU economic-operator contact. Online marketplaces may also request proof of this information as part of their compliance processes.

What documents and labels do I need to be GPSR-compliant as a handmade seller?

GPSR expects you to keep technical documentation that demonstrates product safety and to provide clear identification and contact details on the product, packaging, or accompanying documents. The exact level of detail depends on the product’s risks, but you should be ready to provide a coherent “safety file” if authorities ask.

Typical GPSR technical documentation

Product description and identification (model or type, photos, variants).
Manufacturer name, postal address, and an electronic contact address that enables two-way communication (for example, an email address or a contact form).
Safety and risk assessment, including foreseeable use and misuse.
Test reports or other evidence relevant to the risks (for example, material safety, mechanical strength, electrical safety).
Instructions for use, warnings, and safety information.
Traceability records (batch or serial number, where applicable; supplier inputs; production notes).

Label and online listing information

Manufacturer identification and contact details, plus a product identifier (model or type).
Batch or serial number, where applicable.
If you must appoint an EU Responsible Person, their EU contact details must be shown on the product, packaging, or an accompanying document, depending on what is feasible.

CE marking is not a GPSR marking. CE marking is used only when a product is covered by specific EU harmonisation legislation that requires it.

How can I comply with GPSR if I have no EU presence?

If you sell into the EU without an establishment there, you usually comply by ensuring that an EU-based economic operator is in place, often by appointing a Responsible Person. In some supply chains, an EU importer or distributor may be identifiable, but for direct-to-consumer distance sales, you often need a dedicated solution.

Under the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (MSR), the Responsible Person role is fulfilled by an economic operator established in the EU. This role acts as an authority-facing compliance contact and a documentation access point. The Responsible Person must also notify the manufacturer of risks under Article 4 of the MSR. If you also appoint an authorised representative, note that an authorised representative is not mandatory, and it has responsibilities distinct from those of the Responsible Person.

Map your supply chain and identify whether there is an EU importer or distributor for each product.
If you sell directly from outside the EU, appoint an EU Responsible Person and align labeling and listings to show the correct role.
Prepare a complete, consistent technical file and keep it ready for authority requests.

How [COMPANY] helps with GPSR compliance for small handmade sellers

We help handmade sellers and small teams meet GPSR and MSR requirements without guessing what authorities or marketplaces will ask for. Our services focus on practical compliance steps that fit real-world online selling.

We provide EU Responsible Person and EU Authorised Representative services aligned with GPSR and MSR roles.
We review your product safety documentation for completeness and help you organise a GPSR-ready technical file.
We support labeling and listing alignment so your manufacturer details and EU economic-operator details are shown correctly.

See our services or contact us to discuss your products and the fastest path to compliant EU market access.