European Union Strengthens Consumer Product Safety Regulation

european-union-flagJune 13, 2023 | The European Commission approved a new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) 2023/988 for the European Union (EU), which entered into force yesterday, June 12, 2023. The regulation, going into effect as of December 13, 2024, is one of several initiatives in the works that will bring extensive changes to how consumer products are handled in the European market.

As part of the changes, all products placed on the EU market that fall under GPSR will have to undergo an “internal risk analysis” and have an up-to-date technical file "containing at least a general description of the product and its essential characteristics relevant for assessing its safety." Companies that are not economic operators within the EU will also have to establish a responsible person in the EU to import products.

Additionally, the new regulation will include:

  • Increased enforcement requirements and activities
  • New rules and requirements for online marketplaces
  • An enhanced product recall process

“These changes to the EU’s product safety regulations impose considerable new requirements on manufacturers, importers, and distributors, as well as significantly changing how recalls will be handled going forward,” said Jos Huxley, senior vice president of technical affairs at The Toy Association. “We will continue to monitor any actions that Toy Association members selling products in Europe should take as it comes into effect.”

The previous General Product Safety Directive (Directive 2001/95/EC) will be repealed when the new GPSR goes into effect.

Members may contact Jos Huxley, senior vice president of technical affairs at The Toy Association, with any questions.