REGULATION (EU) 2023/988 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 May 2023 on general product safet

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a comprehensive document regulating the safety of products entering the EU market. Its main purpose is to protect consumers by establishing uniform, strict standards for the safety and quality of goods offered through both traditional and online sales channels.

In the context of online stores, the GPSR requires sellers to provide detailed information about the product, allowing consumers to make informed choices. This means providing not only the basic technical parameters, but also potential hazards, instructions for use, and possible restrictions for a particular product.

The regulation imposes new obligations on online sellers, such as the creation of an effective product tracking system that allows the origin of the product, its route into circulation and its complete distribution history to be accurately determined. This is particularly important in the event of potential complaints or the need to recall products.

The GPSR introduces the principle of increased responsibility for manufacturers and sellers, which in practice means that they are fully responsible for the safety of the products they offer. For online stores, this means the need to thoroughly check suppliers and constantly monitor the quality of their products.

A significant change is the emphasis on prevention and consumer education. Online stores are required to provide not only official information about products, but also practical advice on safe use, potential hazards and proper product care.

The new regulation provides for severe financial penalties for non-compliance with its provisions — fines can reach several hundred thousand euros, which is a serious incentive for online stores to comply with all the requirements set out in the GPSR.

The GPSR came into force on 13 December 2024, replacing the existing General Product Safety Directive.

REGULATION (EU) 2023/988 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 May 2023 on general product safety, amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and the Council, and repealing Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 87/357/EEC