Produktsicherheitsverordnung
The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) entered into force on 12 June 2023 and has applied directly in all EU Member States since 13 December 2024. It replaces the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC.
Core obligations:
- General safety requirement: only safe products may be placed on the market
- Responsible person in the EU: an economic operator established in the Union must be designated for every product
- Technical documentation and traceability across the entire supply chain
- Duty to report accidents and safety incidents via the Safety Business Gateway
- Recall procedures with direct consumer notification and a right to remedy (repair, replacement or refund)
- Obligations for online marketplaces and distance selling: listings must show manufacturer details, product identifiers and warnings
Relationship to other frameworks: the GPSR is a safety net. Where sector-specific harmonisation legislation exists, it takes precedence; this covers medical devices (MDR) and PPE (Regulation (EU) 2016/425). Aspects not regulated there fall additionally under the GPSR.
Relevance for gloves: household and cleaning gloves without PPE or medical device classification fall entirely under the GPSR. For e-commerce, the requirements on product information in listings are directly relevant to implementation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the GPSR also apply to medical devices and PPE?
Only in addition. For medical devices the MDR takes precedence and for PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. The GPSR applies to safety aspects not regulated in the sector-specific rules, and to products with no harmonisation legislation of their own.
What is the responsible person under the GPSR?
An economic operator established in the EU who must be designated for every product. They keep the conformity documentation available, check the labelling and act as the contact point for market surveillance authorities. Without a designated responsible person, the product may not be offered in the EU.
What information does the GPSR require in online listings?
Every listing must show the manufacturer's name and contact details, plus the responsible person in the EU for third-country manufacturers, together with a product image, the type or batch designation and any required warnings and safety information.