General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) Readiness
Write the risk analysis before launch, keep the technical file 10 years and make every listing show who is responsible in the EU.
In Short
- Technical file kept 10 years.
- EU responsible person required.
- Accidents notified without delay.
The Consumer Products Guide
The right parts. Tested products. The right box on the truck.
- Which rules reach your product
- Suppliers, BOM revisions and variants
- Assembly, tests, holds and packaging
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UltimateFree guide
The Consumer Products Guide
The right parts. Tested products. The right box on the truck.
Regulation (EU) 2023/988 replaced the General Product Safety Directive and has applied since 13 December 2024. It covers consumer products that have no specific EU safety rules with the same objective, and the risks those rules do not cover. Food and medicines are excluded. This guide covers the general safety requirement and the main duties of manufacturers, importers and distance sellers. Orientation, not legal advice. Sources checked 4 Oct 2026.
Scope and how it fits other EU law
Article 2 applies the GPSR where no specific Union provision with the same safety objective exists. Where specific harmonisation law covers some risks, the GPSR covers only the remaining aspects, and several chapters do not apply.
More on scope and how it fits other EU law
Article 2(2) excludes, among others, medicinal products and food. Article 5 sets one general requirement: economic operators may place or make available only safe products. Article 6 lists what goes into assessing safety, including design, composition, packaging, instructions, effects on other products, presentation and labelling, and the categories of consumers at risk, including children.
Manufacturer: risk analysis and technical documentation
Article 9(2) requires manufacturers to carry out an internal risk analysis before placing a product on the market and to draw up technical documentation with at least a general description and the product's essential safety characteristics. Where appropriate it also contains the analysis of possible risks, the solutions adopted, test reports, and any European standards or other elements applied, noting where they were only partly applied.
Worked example: technical file TF-KT-301 (kettle)
More on manufacturer: risk analysis and technical documentation
Article 9(3) requires the documentation to be kept up to date and available to market surveillance authorities for 10 years after the product is placed on the market.
Identification, contact details and series production
Article 9(4) asks for procedures so that series production stays in conformity. Article 9(5) requires a type, batch or serial number or other identifier that consumers can easily see, or on the packaging or an accompanying document where size does not allow it.
More on identification, contact details and series production
Article 9(6) requires the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or mark, postal and electronic address on the product or, where not possible, on packaging or an accompanying document. Importers have matching duties under Article 11, including checking the manufacturer met Article 9(2), (5) and (6) before placing the product.
EU responsible person and online offers
Article 16 says a product may not be placed on the EU market unless an economic operator established in the Union is responsible for the tasks in Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. That can be the manufacturer, importer, authorised representative or a fulfilment service provider under that regulation.
What an online offer shows (Article 19)
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer and contact | Name, postal and email address |
| EU responsible person | If manufacturer outside the Union |
| Product identification | Picture, type, other identifier |
| Warnings | As on the product or label |
- Manufacturer and contact
- Example
- Name, postal and email address
- EU responsible person
- Example
- If manufacturer outside the Union
- Product identification
- Example
- Picture, type, other identifier
- Warnings
- Example
- As on the product or label
More on eU responsible person and online offers
Article 19 requires distance sales offers to show clearly the manufacturer's name and contact addresses, the EU responsible person where the manufacturer is outside the Union, product identification including a picture and type, and any warnings or safety information that must be on the product or label.
Accidents and what to keep ready
Article 20 requires the manufacturer to ensure that an accident caused by its product is notified through the Safety Business Gateway without undue delay after it knows of it, to the authorities of the Member State where it occurred. Accidents here mean occurrences that resulted in death or serious adverse effects on a person's health and safety.
More on accidents and what to keep ready
Importers and distributors who learn of an accident inform the manufacturer without undue delay. Keep complaint intake, product identifiers and lot records linked so your team can identify products quickly. People decide what to notify and when.
Questions
Does the GPSR apply to food or medicines?
No. Article 2(2) excludes, among others, medicinal products for human or veterinary use and food.
How long must technical documentation be kept?
Article 9(3) says 10 years after the product has been placed on the market, kept up to date and available to market surveillance authorities on request.
What must an online product listing show?
Under Article 19: manufacturer name and postal and electronic address, the EU responsible person if the manufacturer is outside the Union, product identification including a picture and type, and any required warnings or safety information.
Can products made under the old directive still be sold?
Article 51 says Member States shall not impede products that conform to Directive 2001/95/EC and were placed on the market before 13 December 2024.
Practical orientation, not legal advice. Rules differ by jurisdiction; your quality and compliance team decides what applies.
Keep reading
- Global Consumer Product Safety Readiness Guide (2026)
ASTM F963-23 and EU Toy Safety Regulation 2025/2509: Readiness
California Prop 65 Warnings: Labels, Short Form, Online Sales and Supplier Notices
CPSIA Children's Product Certificate Readiness: Testing, Content and eFiling
REACH SVHC in Articles and RoHS: Supplier Data Readiness