[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/EU GPSR Guide EUConsumer Safety # EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): The New Consumer Safety Net for Hardware Sellers The EU General Product Safety Regulation replaced the 2001 GPSD on December 13, 2024, and brought the first major overhaul of EU consumer product safety law in over two decades. If you manufacture, import, or sell consumer hardware into the EU, new traceability, digital labeling, and online marketplace obligations now apply to your products. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Feu-gpsr-general-product-safety) At a glance Regulation (EU) 2023/988 GPSR Enforcement December 13, 2024 Replaces GPSD 2001/95/EC Key new Online marketplace duties, traceability, digital labeling ## What GPSR adds beyond the old GPSD ### Scope expansion — connected products and software-related risks GPSR explicitly brings connected products and software-driven risks within scope, closing a gap that existed under the old GPSD. If your product communicates wirelessly, receives updates, or relies on software to perform its core function, the cybersecurity and digital safety dimensions of that product are now part of the general safety assessment. This matters for smart home devices, wearables, and any hardware with a companion app. ### Manufacturer traceability — identifier, safety contact, and complaints system Every product must carry a unique product identifier that enables tracing through the supply chain. Manufacturers must also provide a safety contact — a name, address, and electronic contact point — accessible directly from the product or its packaging. Internally, companies must operate a documented complaints-handling mechanism that captures safety-related feedback and links it to corrective actions. ### Online marketplace duties — liability for third-party sellers Under the old GPSD, online marketplaces occupied a legal grey zone. GPSR closes that gap: marketplaces must verify that third-party sellers have supplied the required traceability information, act swiftly on safety notices, and maintain a single point of contact for market surveillance authorities. Failure to do so exposes the marketplace itself to enforcement action — not just the underlying seller. ### Digital product passport ready — unique identifiers and data carriers GPSR introduces mandatory unique product identifiers that are intended to be compatible with the EU's forthcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) infrastructure. Products must carry a data carrier — a QR code, barcode, or RFID — that links to the safety and traceability information. Companies that implement this now will be ahead of the DPP implementation curve across other regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. ## How to achieve GPSR compliance for your product 01 Confirm your product is a consumer product within GPSR scope — the definition is broad, covering nearly any product supplied or made available to consumers, including products that were not designed for consumers but are foreseeably used by them. 02 Implement a unique product identifier: this can be a serial number, batch number, or product type reference, but it must be sufficient to trace the specific product through your distribution chain from manufacturer to consumer. 03 Conduct a GPSR-compliant risk assessment that explicitly addresses physical hazards, chemical risks, digital and cybersecurity risks, and risks to vulnerable consumer groups including children and elderly users. 04 Establish an internal safety complaints-handling system and a consumer-facing notification mechanism — a dedicated email address or web form through which consumers can report safety incidents or product defects. 05 Notify SAREF (the EU Safety Gate rapid alert system) immediately if you discover that a product you have placed on the market presents a serious risk, and execute a corrective action plan including withdrawal, recall, or repair as appropriate. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between GPSR and CE marking? GPSR and CE marking are complementary but distinct. CE marking demonstrates conformity with specific harmonised directives or regulations (such as the LVD or EMC Directive) and uses harmonised standards as the technical benchmark. GPSR is the general safety backstop — it applies to all consumer products regardless of whether they are subject to a sector-specific CE marking directive. A product can carry a CE mark and still be non-compliant with GPSR if its general safety documentation is inadequate. ### Does GPSR apply to B2B products? GPSR applies to products supplied or made available to consumers, including products supplied through professional channels if consumers can foreseeably obtain or use them. Purely industrial products sold exclusively through B2B channels with no realistic pathway to consumer use may fall outside GPSR scope, but companies should apply a precautionary analysis rather than assuming exclusion. If there is any realistic route by which a product reaches an end consumer, GPSR should be treated as applicable. ### What new obligations do online marketplaces face under GPSR? Online marketplaces must now designate a single point of contact for market surveillance authorities, verify that third-party sellers have provided the required product identifiers and safety contacts, act within prescribed timeframes to remove or block access to unsafe products notified through SAREF or by authorities, and cooperate with corrective actions including recalls. These obligations apply regardless of whether the marketplace itself sells the product or merely hosts third-party listings. ### Does GPSR require a physical label or can it be digital? GPSR allows the unique product identifier and safety contact information to be communicated digitally, including via a QR code or other data carrier on the product or packaging. However, the information must be readily accessible to consumers and market surveillance authorities without requiring specialist equipment. The safety contact must be available in a durable format — purely in-app disclosure that disappears if the app is updated is unlikely to satisfy the requirement. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇪🇺 CE Marking roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇪🇺 CE Marking compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. 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