On December 13, 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) will take effect across the EU and Northern Ireland. This new law replaces the older General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) to bring safety standards up to date with today’s ecommerce environment. GPSR is designed to ensure all non-food consumer products sold in the EU are safe, with a focus on accountability and consumer protection.
Who is affected?
GPSR impacts several key players in ecommerce:
- Manufacturers: They must ensure products meet all safety standards and provide relevant safety information.
- Sellers and Distributors: These parties need to display the contact details of the manufacturer or the designated responsible person within the EU, along with any necessary warning and safety information.
- Online Marketplaces: They are responsible for verifying compliance among sellers, facilitating product recalls, and notifying consumers of any safety issues.
- Vendors: Vendors must ensure that the products they supply are compliant, safe for consumers, and meet GPSR requirements before listing or selling to distributors or end customers.
Each group plays a vital role in upholding product safety standards. Failing to meet GPSR obligations can lead to penalties, listing disruptions, and reputational risk.
Reka Juhasz,
Key changes and requirements under GPSR
The GPSR introduces several new requirements aimed at protecting consumers. Here's what marketplace sellers need to know:
- Safety and Risk Assessments: All products must undergo thorough safety checks to identify and manage risks effectively.
- Contact Information for Transparency: Sellers must provide EU-based contact details for the manufacturer or a responsible person on each product. They must also provide clear warnings and safety information about the product.
- Market Surveillance and Reporting: Authorities have expanded their power to enforce GPSR requirements, including swift reporting of unsafe products. Businesses must notify authorities of any serious safety risks without delay.
- Marketplace Responsibilities: Platforms must facilitate product recalls, inform consumers of any safety risks, and monitor for unsafe items.
- Enhanced Traceability: New rules require improved product traceability to allow for quick action if a safety issue arises, covering product identification and batch tracking.
- Digital Sales and Information Clarity: Ecommerce platforms and sellers must make safety information accessible, clear, and visible, ensuring consumers understand any product risks before purchase.
How to submit compliance information
While each marketplace may have its own approach to GPSR compliance, here’s a general overview to help you, as a marketplace seller, understand how the process typically works.
Keep in mind that submission methods can vary: some marketplaces might send an Excel spreadsheet to collect compliance information, others might rely on integration tools like ChannelEngine to provide all the information, and a few may require submissions directly through their backend (e.g., Seller Central).
Here’s an outline of common steps, though it’s best to verify the exact process for each marketplace:
1. Gather Submission Requirements: Start by identifying how the marketplace collects compliance information:
- Excel Spreadsheet: Some marketplaces may provide an Excel file to capture the necessary details.
- Third-Party Integration: Others, like those using ChannelEngine, may require compliance data through this platform.
- Marketplace Backend: A few marketplaces might ask you to navigate to their compliance or account health dashboard to enter GPSR details directly.
2. Submit Responsible Party Information: You’ll likely need to enter the contact details for both the responsible person and the manufacturer. Be sure to provide these details in the correct language(s) for each country in which you are selling.
3. Upload Safety Documents and Images:
- Add relevant safety information, such as manuals, fact sheets, or warning documents.
- Upload images (there may be a limit) showing labels with safety and warning details.
- If selling in countries with multiple official languages, ensure documents or images are available in all relevant languages.
4. Verify and Update Regularly: After uploading, review the listing to confirm that safety images and documents appear as expected. Revisit this periodically to keep information up to date, especially if regulations or product details change.
5. Document Compliance Status: If a product is exempt from specific safety warnings, some marketplaces allow you to submit an attestation. Use this feature if applicable, and keep records to demonstrate compliance in case of future audits.
Following these steps can help ensure your products meet GPSR standards, minimizing the risk of listing disruptions and enhancing consumer safety. While we've aimed to provide a general structure, keep in mind that the exact process may differ across marketplaces.
FAQs about GPSR for marketplace sellers:
1. How does the GPSR differ from the previous General Product Safety Directive (GPSD)?
It expands on the GPSD by including more specific requirements for online marketplaces. It introduces new obligations for responsible parties or economic operators, enhances market surveillance, and addresses emerging technologies like AI and IoT devices. The GPSR also aims to improve product traceability and recall procedures.
2. Is it necessary to upload all documents in the language of the marketplace? Can I use safety information in English if that’s all I have?
Yes, translation of the GPSR content into the language of the specific marketplace is mandatory. For example, an English version is not sufficient to be compliant as a seller on a German marketplace.
Tip: You can use AI tools to assist with translations and include a reference to the original documentation in its original language for additional clarity. Alternatively, you can compile all language versions into a single PDF and upload it across all marketplaces.
3. Which products are considered dangerous, and what kind of information do dangerous products need to provide?
Dangerous products are typically those that pose risks to health, safety, or the environment. Examples include flammable materials, chemicals, electrical equipment, and items with sharp components.
Sellers of these products generally need to provide detailed safety information, including:
- Hazard classifications and warning labels
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Instructions for safe use and handling
- Emergency procedures
Tip: Always consult the specific marketplace guidelines or a product safety expert to ensure compliance with local regulations.
4. Is the GPSR data always the same per SKU/EAN/ASIN? Is there a scenario possible that the GPSR data is different per marketplace seller?
The GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) data should be consistent for the same SKU/EAN/ASIN, regardless of the seller.
Since GPSR data pertains to the product's inherent safety and compliance information, it does not change based on who is selling it. However, variations may occur if sellers provide additional or differing information, such as unique safety instructions, packaging, or documentation tailored to their supply chain.
5. Does the information about the manufacturer or their representative in the EU need to be displayed on product pages?
Yes, the information about the manufacturer or their authorized representative in the EU must be clearly displayed on product pages. This is a requirement under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) to ensure transparency and accountability for product safety and compliance within the EU market.
6. What happens if no one submits the documents by the specified deadline, will the product listing be removed?
Failure to submit the necessary compliance documents by the specified deadlines can lead to the removal of your product listings from various marketplaces.
For instance, Amazon is sticking to the general deadline of December 13, 2024, while Miravia has an even earlier deadline of December 1, 2024, in line with the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).
Some other platforms, such as bol have extended their compliance deadlines to February 2025.
Tip: Don’t wait or rely on potential deadline extensions. Being proactive about compliance helps keep your sales running smoothly and avoids unnecessary penalties.
All of this and more was covered in our LinkedIn Live session with Jorrit Steinz (CEO & Founder of ChannelEngine) and Mitchell Droge (Global Manager Channel Partnerships). They shared valuable insights into GPSR compliance and marketplace regulations.
Watch the full session here to catch up on their expert advice.
Still feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry - ChannelEngine is here to help! Our marketplace experts are here to guide you through compliance requirements and handle the tricky regulatory stuff for you.
Already a ChannelEngine customer? For more details on meeting GPSR requirements on your specific marketplaces, check out the Help Center article ChannelEngine: GPSR compliance
