Household Products & Home Appliances – EU Representation for GPSR Compliance
Ensure your household products and appliances meet EU safety requirements with EARP’s trusted Authorized Representative services.
Domestic safety starts with compliance
Household products and home appliances range from simple storage bins to powered kitchen tools, all of which can pose safety risks in everyday use. These risks include electrical shocks, burns, sharp edges, or exposure to unsafe materials if not correctly designed, labeled, or documented.
These products must meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) to be sold in the EU. This regulation mandates clear labeling, robust safety documentation, and effective traceability to help ensure consumers receive products with safe designs, tested materials, and straightforward instructions. Manufacturers selling to Europe must understand and meet these obligations to avoid customs holds, retailer bans, or regulatory recalls.
What the GPSR expects
Prepare a risk analysis and a living technical file explaining hazards, risk estimates, controls and supporting tests/standards. Present the product clearly, list the manufacturer name and an electronic/ postal address, a model/batch for traceability, and instructions/warnings that match the risks including foreseeable misuse.
What authorities flag most
Reviewers look for a coherent safety story. For appliances this usually means: insulation/clearance and earthing that hold up under abnormal voltage and cable runs; thermal cut-outs and software limits that prevent runaway heating; drum/door/guard integrity under misuse; gas appliances with leak, ignition and CO controls documented; and labels/instructions that actually help users avoid common pitfalls. Safety documentation that typically provides compliance evidence includes:
- Power & thermal note (protections like OCP/OVP/OTP, worst-case test conditions and outcomes).
- Safety-critical parts list (transformers, thermostats, valves, hose sets) with standard references.
- If connected: a one-pager on update policy (how firmware/app changes are validated for safety).What
What are household products & home appliances
This category includes a wide range of home-use items, from non-powered household goods to small electrical appliances. These are the everyday products consumers rely on for cooking, cleaning, organizing, or making their living spaces more comfortable. Examples include:
Small kitchen appliances (kettles, toasters, coffee makers)
Cleaning tools and household accessories (mops, bins, ironing boards)
Air treatment devices (humidifiers, purifiers, fans)
Non-electric kitchenware and utensils
Laundry and storage items (baskets, drying racks)
Manual appliances or mechanical tools for home use
Whether powered or manual, these products must be safe under normal and foreseeable use. Clear labeling, safety instructions, and accessible documentation help reduce risks such as shocks, burns, cuts, misuse, or material hazards.
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 Authorized Representative?
Yes. If you are a non-EU manufacturer selling household goods or home appliances in the EU, you need to ensure these products have an EU-based Responsible Person as required by Article 16(1) of the GPSR. For brands without an importer, distributor, or fulfillment partner willing to take on this role, appointing an Authorized Representative is the formal way to meet this obligation. This is especially important for powered appliances or multi-material products that require specific labeling, documentation, and traceability to comply with EU rules and avoid market access issues.
We can act as your Authorized Representative and your EU-based Responsible Person. Find out who we are.
Helpful ArticleWhy choose EARP as your EU Representative
EARP understands the unique safety, labeling, and documentation challenges for household products and home appliances sold in the EU. Our services include:
- Authorizing use of EARP’s EU contact details on packaging, manuals, or product labels
- Acting as your official EU contact point for market surveillance authorities reviewing home-use products
- Verifying safety documentation for powered appliances and ensuring labeling includes clear usage instructions and contact details
- Holding and making available your Declaration of Conformity and technical files for inspections
- Supporting recalls, consumer safety notices, and withdrawal communications if needed
- Supplying template documentation and guidance to help ensure your technical files meet minimum GPSR requirements
- If serious risks or accidents arise, we can prepare and submit notifications without undue delay via the Safety Business Gateway, coordinating with authorities on follow-ups.
Read more about EARP’s Representation services.
We remain independent from your importer or distributor relationships, giving you flexibility in your commercial strategy while meeting EU compliance needs.
FAQs – Household & Home Appliances
A product description, intended use, risk assessment, labeling, and clear safety instructions, in line with GPSR Article 9(2).
Your products risk being blocked at customs, removed from online marketplaces, or flagged by EU authorities. EARP helps ensure you have a compliant AR arrangement in place.
Yes. If you are the brand owner and considered the “manufacturer” under the GPSR, EARP can act as your EU Authorized Representative.
Yes. GPSR Article 9(2) requires manufacturers to provide safety instructions and warnings, either on the product, packaging, or in an included leaflet if necessary for safe use.
