Product Safety Act (PrSG)
The Produktsicherheitsgesetz (PrSG) was the German implementing law for the EU Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC). It governed the general safety obligations for products not covered by specific harmonisation legislation.
Since 13 December 2024, the new EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) applies directly in all EU Member States, replacing the old Directive and PrSG.
Core points of the GPSR / PrSG:
- General safety requirement: products must be safe
- Acts as a catch-all standard for products without a specific CE requirement
- For medical devices and PPE, MDR and PPE Regulation take precedence (sector-specific rules)
- Reporting obligations for unsafe products (Safety Gate / RAPEX system)
Relevance for gloves:
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the PrSG and MDR?
Has the new EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 replaced the PrSG?
Yes. The GPSR (EU) 2023/988 has applied directly in all EU Member States since 13 December 2024, replacing both the PrSG and the old Directive 2001/95/EC.
Does the PrSG also apply to online marketplaces?
The new GPSR 2023/988 explicitly includes online marketplaces (online platforms), requiring them to remove unsafe products and cooperate with authorities. This goes significantly beyond the old Product Safety Directive.