EU General Product Safety regulations in effect from today

Starting today (Friday 13 December) new regulations will affect some businesses selling in Northern Ireland and the EU.

The EU Regulation on General Product Safety (GPSR) will impact GB businesses selling some non-food goods intended for consumers in the EU. It will affect some businesses selling in Northern Ireland. 

Impacted GB-based businesses wanting to make a product available to the Northern Irish market will have to comply with the requirements of the regulation.

Impacted businesses will include manufacturers, retailers, EU-based importers and specifically to online marketplaces.

GPSR introduces some new requirements on traceability which means that businesses selling from GB into the EU and into Northern Ireland will need a compliance point of contact / "responsible economic operator" for product safety. Products will have to be traceable (for example, through a batch or serial number) that's visible for consumers. Businesses selling via an online platform will have to verify compliance with GPSR requirements.

This will not apply to food, plants and animals, animal by-products, products for plant protection, and products marked for repair or reconditioning. Businesses should check whether they will be subject to the new GPSR requirements. 

This Regulation does not apply to any products being placed on, or made available in the GB market.

You can view full guidance on GPSR here.

Companies with queries or questions on the application of the GPSR or related legislation can contact Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) [email protected].