When must I report a dangerous product to EU authorities under GPSR?

Under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR), you must report a dangerous product to EU authorities without undue delay once you know, or should know, that a product you placed or made available on the EU market presents a risk to consumers’ health or safety. This duty can be triggered by complaints, test results, or an accident report after sale. The sections below explain what “dangerous” means, when notification is required, and what to submit.

What counts as a “dangerous product” under the GPSR?

A product is “dangerous” under the GPSR when, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, it presents a risk to consumers’ health or safety that is not compatible with the general safety requirement. The assessment considers who uses the product, including vulnerable consumers such as children, older people, or persons with disabilities, and how the product is realistically used or misused.

In practice, “dangerous” is determined through a risk assessment that looks at factors such as the product’s characteristics, composition, packaging, instructions and warnings, and the effects of other products it may be used with. Conformity with relevant harmonised standards can support a presumption of safety, but it does not prevent authorities from finding a product dangerous if evidence shows a real risk. Sector-specific EU legislation (for example, rules for toys, electrical equipment, or chemicals) can add extra safety duties alongside the GPSR.

When do I have to notify EU authorities about a dangerous product under the GPSR?

You must notify the competent national market surveillance authorities when a product you placed or made available on the EU market is dangerous and you know or should know about that danger. This includes knowledge gained after sale, for example from consumer complaints, internal checks, third-party test results, or an accident linked to the product. Notification is expected as soon as you have enough information to describe the risk and the actions taken.

“Without undue delay” is not a fixed number of days. It means you should not wait for a complete root-cause investigation if consumers may be exposed to harm. A practical approach is to (1) take immediate containment steps, (2) start your risk assessment, and (3) submit an initial notification promptly, then update authorities as facts and corrective measures develop.

Businesses notify authorities through the Safety Business Gateway, which makes the information available to relevant market surveillance authorities across Member States. Depending on the case, an authority may create a Safety Gate rapid alert based on what you submit.

How do I report a dangerous product in the EU, and what information is required?

Reporting is done through the Safety Business Gateway and should provide a clear description of the risk, where the product was made available, and what you are doing to eliminate the risk. Start by controlling exposure, then document traceability and corrective measures so authorities can assess urgency and effectiveness.

Dangerous product reporting checklist

Immediate containment: stop sales, quarantine stock, disable online listings where possible, and prevent further distribution.
Product identification: brand, model, SKU, EAN, or other identifiers; photos; and packaging and label details.
Affected scope: batches or serial ranges, production dates, and how to distinguish affected units from unaffected ones.
Distribution and markets: Member States where the product was made available, sales channels, and business customers.
Accident information: what happened, injury or harm description, conditions of use, and any evidence you hold.
Risk assessment summary: hazard, severity, likelihood, vulnerable user groups, and foreseeable misuse.
Corrective actions: withdrawal, recall, repair, replacement, warnings, or other measures, including timelines.
Consumer communication: draft recall notice or safety warning text, languages, and how you will reach affected consumers.
Supporting documentation: test reports, design or manufacturing information relevant to safety, instructions and warnings, and traceability records.

Coordination matters. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors each have their own GPSR duties, and they should share information quickly so the notification and corrective actions are consistent. If there is a Responsible Person under the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (MSR), that economic operator must be informed of risks so it can notify the manufacturer in line with Article 4 of the MSR. Keep records of complaints, recalls, and corrective measures, and be ready to provide follow-up information to authorities.

How EARP helps with GPSR dangerous product reporting and corrective actions

We support companies that need to act fast and communicate clearly with EU authorities when a product safety risk emerges under the GPSR. Our role is to help you organise the facts, coordinate the right economic operators, and keep the process moving without gaps.

Set up an accident intake workflow and document control so reports are captured consistently.
Coordinate risk assessment inputs and compile a clear risk description for authorities.
Draft and submit Safety Business Gateway notifications when required by the relevant economic operator role.
Manage authority communications and follow up on requests for information.
Maintain access to technical documentation and provide it to authorities upon request.
Support withdrawal and recall coordination, including consumer warning content and traceability alignment.

To discuss your situation and the fastest compliant next steps, see our services or contact us.