What is the European GPSR Regulation?

The European General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is currently in a transition period and will soon become a key compliance requirement for accessing the European market. Recently, Amazon introduced a new GPSR feature that requires sellers to upload information about their responsible person and manufacturer. Non-compliant products will be removed, so sellers need to prepare in advance. Alibaba International Station has also issued this notice, emphasizing that having a European Authorized Representative (EU Rep) or a UK Responsible Person (UK Rep) is essential for entering the European market.

How Should Sellers Comply with GPSR?

Below is a comprehensive guide to help sellers comply with GPSR requirements. It is recommended to keep this guide for reference.

What is the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)?

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is an EU regulation designed to ensure that products sold in the market are safe. It will replace the General Product Safety Directive and will come into effect on December 13, 2024. Most non-food products sold in the EU and Northern Ireland, including both CE and non-CE marked products, will need to comply with GPSR.

Amazon has already implemented a new GPSR feature. Previously, sellers could only upload EU responsible person information for CE-marked products. Now, brand sellers can upload information for all products, including both CE and non-CE marked items.

How is GPSR Related to EU Reps?

1. Having an EU Rep is a compliance requirement under the GPSR policy.

2. Under the new GPSR policy, both CE-marked and non-CE-marked products must have an EU Rep.

Which Sellers Will Be Affected?

The mandatory implementation of GPSR will broadly impact sellers on the European market. If you meet the following two criteria, you need to comply with GPSR requirements by December 13, 2024:

1. Selling goods in the EU and Northern Ireland.

2. Selling non-food consumer goods, including second-hand, repaired, and refurbished items.

Excluded Product Types:

1. Human or veterinary medicines.

2. Food.

3. Animal feed.

4. Living plants and animals (including GMOs and GMO microorganisms, and products directly related to the future reproduction of plants and animals).

5. Animal by-products and derived products.

6. Plant protection products (e.g., pesticides, insecticides).

7. Consumer ride-on equipment operated by a service provider as part of a transportation service, not operated by the consumer.

8. Aircraft.

9. Antiques.

Should Sellers Wait Until the End of the Year to Comply with GPSR?

Amazon advises against waiting until the end of the year to take action. The GPSR regulation has multiple requirements, including uploading documents and labeling products, which takes time to complete and pass reviews. If there are non-compliant products in FBA inventory after December 13, Amazon may remove these products. Therefore, it is best to act quickly.

Steps for Sellers to Ensure Compliance:

1. Ensure all products sold in the EU and Northern Ireland meet existing labeling and traceability requirements.

2. Designate an EU responsible person (EU Rep) for your products.

3. Ensure product labels include the following information:

   - Basic information of the EU responsible person (name, phone number, postal address, and email/URL).

   - Postal address and email/URL of the manufacturer and importer.

   - Warnings and safety information in the language of the selling country/region.

   - Product type, batch or serial number, or other elements to identify the product.

4. Ensure the following information is displayed on the online product detail page:

   - Name and detailed contact information of the EU responsible person (email/URL).

   - Name and detailed contact information of the manufacturer (if the manufacturer has no EU address, the EU responsible person's name and contact details).

   - Warnings and safety information in the language of the selling country/region.

GPSR requirements involve several practical aspects, including designating an EU authorized representative, adding the EU rep information to products, enhancing product traceability, and ensuring correct product labeling. It is recommended that sellers review their product compliance in a timely manner to ensure products can be sold smoothly and safely in the EU market.

How to Upload Compliance Information?

Amazon has opened a new GPSR compliance feature. Brand sellers should promptly upload their EU responsible person and manufacturer information. The upload steps are as follows:

1. Log in to the Amazon Seller Central.

2. Click "Account Health" > "Manage Your Compliance" > "Add Compliance Information".

3. Select "General Product Safety Regulation" and fill in the required information.

After Amazon verifies your responsible person information, it will be displayed on the corresponding product detail page within 24 hours. Starting from the second half of 2024, verified manufacturer information will also be displayed on the product detail page.

FAQs:

Does GPSR apply to the UK market?

GPSR does not apply to England, Scotland, and Wales. However, under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the regulation applies to Northern Ireland. Sellers need to comply with the requirements for selling products in Northern Ireland just as in the EU.

Do I need to upload responsible person information for each EU site separately?

Yes, you need to upload responsible person information for each EU site. If you are a brand owner, you only need to upload once based on the brand dimension.

Do I need to update product labels and safety images if the EU responsible person information changes?

Yes, you need to:

   1. Update your responsible person information on the seller platform.

   2. Display the latest responsible person information on labels.

   3. Update the responsible person information on uploaded product safety images/files if they contain such information.

To meet GPSR compliance, product labels should include:

   - Name, address, and email of the EU responsible person and manufacturer.

   - Product safety and warning information.

   - Product type, batch, serial number, or other identifiers for the product.

It takes at least 3-4 months to fully comply with GPSR requirements. Therefore, sellers should take action as soon as possible to avoid the risk of non-compliant products being removed from the market.