What is the GPSR and when did it take effect?

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Jason van de Zande

The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) is the EU’s main “horizontal” product safety law for consumer products, meaning it sets baseline safety and information rules across many categories. It has applied since 13 December 2024, when its obligations became enforceable for products placed on the EU market from that date. Below are the key questions sellers ask about what the GPSR is, when it started, and who must be established in the EU to support compliance.

What is the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)?

The GPSR is Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which sets a general rule for the EU market: only safe consumer products may be placed on the market or made available. It applies across sales channels, including online and other distance sales, and it updates and replaces the former General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC.

The GPSR covers consumer products broadly, including physical goods and certain non-tangible products such as software, apps, and products with digital features. It can also cover used, repaired, reconditioned, or refurbished products, as well as products originally designed for professional use if they are likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions.

The GPSR also works alongside sector-specific EU harmonisation legislation. Where a specific EU law already addresses certain risks for a product, that specific law takes precedence for those risks, and the GPSR fills the gaps by adding horizontal obligations, especially around distance sales, product information, and market surveillance cooperation.

When did the GPSR take effect, and what changed on that date?

The GPSR has been applicable since 13 December 2024. “Applicable” means the regulation’s requirements are enforceable from that date for products that are placed on the EU market, made available, or offered from that date onward. Products placed on the market before that date under the old Directive 2001/95/EC can generally continue to be made available.

Several practical changes became more prominent from 13 December 2024, including:

  • Stronger distance sales rules, clarifying when an online offer is considered directed at EU consumers.
  • More structured accident-reporting expectations and the use of EU systems such as Safety Gate for safety communication.
  • A greater focus on traceability, so authorities can identify products and responsible economic operators more quickly.
  • Expanded online marketplace duties, including interface and contact-point expectations for product safety information.

Another major operational shift is the reinforced requirement that certain products offered to EU consumers must have an EU-based economic operator identified for compliance purposes, depending on the product’s applicable EU rules, including the framework in Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (MSR).

Who needs a GPSR Responsible Person, and what are their obligations?

A GPSR “Responsible Person” is not an individual; it is an economic operator established in the EU that is identified for specific compliance tasks. This concept is closely linked to the MSR Article 4 framework for many non-food products. It matters most for non-EU manufacturers and distance sellers that do not have an EU establishment, and where no other EU-based actor in the supply chain can take on the role.

Economic operators commonly involved include the manufacturer, importer, distributor, fulfilment service provider, and the provider of an online marketplace. Which entity must act, and what exactly must be done, depends on the product type and the EU legislation that applies to it.

At a high level, Responsible Person obligations typically include:

  • Keeping required technical documentation available for market surveillance authorities upon request.
  • Cooperating with authorities on compliance checks and follow-up actions.
  • Supporting product identification and traceability information, such as model or batch identifiers and contact details.
  • Helping coordinate corrective actions, including withdrawals and recalls, when needed.
  • Under MSR Article 4, informing the manufacturer if the Responsible Person has reason to believe a product presents a risk, noting that notifying serious risks to authorities is not the Responsible Person’s task.

How does EARP help with GPSR compliance and Responsible Person requirements?

We help non-EU manufacturers, brands, and online sellers meet GPSR and EU economic operator requirements by providing independent, EU-based regulatory services focused on documentation readiness and cooperation with authorities.

  • Provide EU Responsible Person and EU Authorized Representative support aligned with GPSR and MSR expectations through our services.
  • Set up practical processes to store and retrieve technical documentation quickly when authorities request it.
  • Review product safety and traceability information for completeness, including identifiers and required contact details.
  • Support communication workflows for corrective actions, including withdrawals and recalls, when required.

If you need to keep selling to EU consumers and want a clear path to GPSR readiness, contact us via our contact page to discuss your products and the right setup.

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