The European Union’s new General Product Safety Regulation is one of the most important reforms of consumer product safety laws in recent memory. In the run up to its commencement date in December 2024, the Cooley products team will explore the practical implications of the new rules in a series of Productwise blogs.
New rules under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) apply in the European Union from 13 December 2024. The GPSR replaces the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC (GPSD). It applies in full to consumer products that are not already subject to EU harmonisation legislation (i.e., non-CE marked products) and covers gaps in product safety regulation for products subject to certain EU harmonisation legislation (i.e., CE marked products).
The GPSR represents a substantial update and will introduce new requirements for consumer products marketed in the EU and create new obligations for companies supplying those products to the EU. These reforms are the culmination of a long period of consideration and debate in Europe. The existing GPSD is around 20 years old, and reform has been under consideration for some 10 years after a failed attempt in 2013. Many of the changes are world-first initiatives.
Companies that supply products to the EU need to ensure they understand the upcoming new requirements and review existing products, systems, policies and procedures to determine what changes (if any) will be needed to comply.
The Cooley products team will explore the new rules under the GPSR in a series of upcoming blogs, addressing topics including:
- What’s new
- Expanded concept of safety
- New accident reporting obligation
- Focus on online marketplaces
- New requirements for recalls and corrective actions
- Enhancements to Safety Gate
- Increased enforcement and international co-operation
- Liability and collective redress
Stay tuned for more.
