Navigating the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): What Importers Need to Know

As a mid-sized EU business importing goods from China, staying compliant with EU regulations is critical to avoiding costly delays, fines, or product recalls. The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), effective since December 13, 2024, introduces stricter rules for consumer product safety, replacing the outdated General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). At GloPort, we’re here to simplify compliance with tools and expertise tailored for importers like you. In this blog, we’ll break down what the GPSR means, how it impacts your imports, and how to stay ahead of the curve.

What Is the GPSR?

The GPSR (Regulation (EU) 2023/988) is the EU’s new framework to ensure all non-food consumer products sold in the EU—whether online or offline—are safe. Unlike the GPSD, which allowed varied national implementations, the GPSR is directly applicable across all EU member states, creating uniform safety standards. It covers a wide range of products, including electronics, textiles, toys, and furniture, whether new, used, repaired, or reconditioned.

The regulation addresses modern challenges like e-commerce, new technologies (e.g., AI, IoT), and global supply chains, ensuring consumer protection while promoting fair trade. For importers, the GPSR introduces new obligations to keep your products compliant and your business competitive.

Key GPSR Requirements for Importers

The GPSR places significant responsibilities on economic operators (EOs)—manufacturers, importers, distributors, and online marketplaces. Here’s what you need to know as an importer bringing goods from China to the EU:

1. Appoint an EU-Based Responsible Person

What: Products cannot be placed on the EU market unless an EO established in the EU (e.g., an importer, authorized representative, or fulfillment service provider) is responsible for compliance tasks.

Why It Matters: If you’re importing from China, you’ll need an EU-based contact point to handle safety documentation and liaise with market surveillance authorities. This ensures traceability and accountability.

Action: Designate an authorized representative or act as the importer yourself, ensuring contact details (postal and electronic, like an email or contact form) are on the product or packaging.

2. Conduct Thorough Risk Assessments

What: Importers must verify that manufacturers have conducted risk assessments covering product characteristics (e.g., design, packaging), interactions with other products, and risks from new technologies like AI or cybersecurity.

Why It Matters: The GPSR emphasizes pre-market safety, requiring technical documentation to prove compliance. This is critical for products not covered by sector-specific laws (e.g., Low Voltage Directive).

Action: Work with suppliers to ensure risk analyses are documented and retained for 10 years. Use GloPort’s compliance checklist to streamline this process.

3. Ensure Proper Labeling and Traceability

What: Products must include visible, legible identifiers (e.g., batch or serial numbers) and the manufacturer’s or responsible person’s contact details. Safety information and warnings must be in the local language of the target market.

Why It Matters: Traceability helps authorities track and recall unsafe products quickly, reducing risks of penalties or market bans.

Action: Use GloPort’s documentation generator to create compliant labels and manuals in multiple EU languages, addressing the “local language” barrier.

4. Monitor and Report Safety Issues

What: Importers must cooperate with market surveillance authorities, report incidents “without undue delay,” and support recalls if products are unsafe. Consumers are entitled to repairs, replacements, or refunds.

Why It Matters: The GPSR enhances the Safety Gate (formerly RAPEX) system for faster information exchange on dangerous products, increasing scrutiny on importers.

Action: Set up a complaint channel (e.g., via GloPort’s website integration) and maintain a register of safety issues, keeping data for up to five years.

5. Comply with E-Commerce Rules

What: For products sold online, importers must ensure platforms display safety information and comply with GPSR standards. Online marketplaces must verify compliance and remove non-compliant listings.

Why It Matters: With e-commerce growth, the GPSR holds platforms accountable, impacting how your products are listed on sites like Amazon or eBay.

Action: Use GloPort’s regulatory hub to check marketplace requirements and update listings with compliant safety details.

How GPSR Impacts Your Import Business

The GPSR directly affects EU businesses importing from China by:

Increasing Compliance Costs: Risk assessments, labeling, and appointing an EU responsible person require investment. Non-compliance risks fines, product bans, or reputational damage.

Enhancing Consumer Trust: Clear safety information and swift recalls build confidence, helping you compete against brands with “bad service.”

Streamlining Processes: Uniform rules across the EU reduce the complexity of navigating different national laws, but you’ll need robust systems to stay compliant.

Addressing Global Supply Chains: The GPSR ensures Chinese suppliers meet EU safety standards, requiring closer collaboration and documentation.

Unlike competitors with outdated platforms, GloPort offers modern tools to simplify these requirements, from HS code finders to multilingual documentation generators, ensuring you stay ahead.

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Steps to Prepare for GPSR Compliance

To ensure your imports are GPSR-compliant by December 13, 2024, and beyond, take these steps:

- Review Your Supply Chain: Verify that Chinese suppliers provide risk assessments and technical documentation. Use GloPort’s supplier tools to streamline communication.
- Appoint an EU Responsible Person: If you’re not based in the EU, designate an authorized representative to handle compliance.
- Update Product Listings: Ensure labels, safety warnings, and identifiers meet GPSR standards, especially for online sales.

- Implement Traceability Systems: Use batch or serial numbers and maintain records for 10 years. GloPort’s traceability features can help.
- Monitor Regulations: Stay informed about GPSR updates and market surveillance actions via GloPort’s regulatory hub.
- Train Your Team: Educate staff on GPSR obligations to ensure consistent compliance.

Why GPSR Matters for Your Business

The GPSR isn’t just a regulatory hurdle—it’s an opportunity to build trust, streamline operations, and stand out in a competitive market. By prioritizing product safety, you can:

- Avoid costly penalties and recalls that disrupt your supply chain.

- Gain a competitive edge over brands with “bad service” or outdated compliance practices.

- Build long-term customer loyalty by ensuring safe, reliable products.

With GloPort, compliance is no longer a headache. Our platform empowers you to navigate the GPSR, communicate effectively with suppliers, and keep your imports moving smoothly.