Baby & Childcare Products – EU Representation for GPSR Compliance
Ensure your baby and childcare products meet EU safety and labeling standards with EARP’s dedicated Authorized Representative services.
Safe baby products for EU market
Baby and childcare products demand the highest safety standards, given they are designed for infants and young children with developing motor skills and heightened vulnerability. Risks include choking hazards, strangulation from straps, chemical exposure in plastics or textiles, and misuse due to poor instructions.
The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) requires these products to include clear labeling, detailed safety documentation, and traceability so parents and guardians can use them confidently and safely.
Non-EU brands selling baby or childcare products in Europe must ensure their products meet these rules, from correct age warnings to safe designs and proper labeling. EARP helps manufacturers meet these expectations, avoid customs delays or online delistings, and maintain trusted access to the European market.
What’s required
Before placing a product on the EU market, complete a risk analysis and keep a technical file that explains the product, the hazards you considered, the controls you chose, and any tests or standards you relied on. Labels and instructions must match the risks. That means that clear clear, legible information must be used and include identity and contact details so consumers and authorities can reach you. For non-EU brands, the GPSR also requires an EU-based responsible person; this can be your importer, fulfilment service provider, or an Authorized Representative you appoint by mandate.
What authorities flag most in baby & child products
Serious issues in baby and childcare goods are rarely abstract: they’re physical design misses and chemical surprises. Expect scrutiny on choking hazards from detachable parts, stability and entrapment around sleep or containment products, and suffocation risks from packaging and soft goods. On the chemical side, soft plastics, coatings, and prints can introduce restricted substances that won’t show up in a visual check. Treat these as your default checkpoints, even when the item isn’t a toy.
Relevant safety documents for compliance
- A bill of materials with supplier IDs for each component and finish, plus batch traceability.
- Latest test reports (or planned test list) for the exact SKU/variant, not a “similar” product.
- Label/IFU artwork showing identity, EU address, model/batch, and risk-based warnings.
- A simple risk analysis page: hazards identified, controls chosen, and why they’re adequate.
What are baby & childcare products?
These products are not medical devices, but they still pose significant safety concerns such as choking, entrapment, or durability risks. Examples of regulated baby and childcare products include:
Teethers, pacifiers, and feeding accessories
Bath tubs and supports for infants
Changing pads and potty chairs
Infant seats, travel cots, and playpens
Baby carriers and slings
Sleep aids like positioners or wearable blankets
All baby and childcare products sold in the EU must be safe under normal and foreseeable use, with clear labeling, usage instructions, and traceability documentation.
Relevant legislation
Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive and may not apply to all products; manufacturers must identify all applicable EU requirements.
Do you need an EU Responsible Person?
Yes. If you are a non-EU manufacturer selling baby or childcare products in the EU, you must ensure these items have an EU-based Responsible Person as required by GPSR Article 16(1). This is especially important for online sales or use of global fulfillment centers, where direct contact with EU regulators is needed.
If no importer, distributor, or fulfillment partner formally agrees to act as Responsible Person, appointing an Authorized Representative is the legally recognized way to fulfill this requirement. This ensures your products are traceable, properly documented, and legally sold in the European market without customs delays or enforcement actions.
We can act as your Authorized Representative and your EU-based Responsible Person. Find out who we are.
Helpful ArticleWhy Choose EARP as Your Responsible Person
EARP understands the unique safety expectations for products used by infants and toddlers. Our services include:
- Acting as your official EU contact point for regulatory authorities and consumer safety inquiries
- Authorizing the use of EARP’s EU address on your packaging and instructions per GPSR requirements
- Holding and making available your safety documentation on request
- Cooperating with EU authorities during inspections, complaints, or incident investigations
- Managing accident reporting and notifying authorities of serious risks when necessary
- Supporting recalls or safety communications initiated by the manufacturer
- Providing access to GPSR-aligned documentation templates to assist your compliance team
We keep roles clear, coordinate with authorities, and help your team keep documentation, labelling and post-market actions aligned, so you can sell confidently across the EU. Read more about EARP’s representation services.
We deliver these services independently from your supply chain partners, helping you maintain flexibility while meeting strict EU compliance rules.
FAQs
At minimum: product description, intended use, risk assessment, test reports (if available), user instructions, and labeling. All documentation must align with GPSR Article 9(2).
Yes. Unless your Amazon entity or fulfillment partner has formally accepted the Responsible Person role, you must appoint an AR to comply with EU law.
Yes. Labels must include warnings, age suitability, and clear instructions specifically tailored for parents or guardians, in line with GPSR Articles 6 and 21.
