GPSR requirements for sellers outside the EU: a practical checklist

Updated 23 October 2026

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Regulation (EU) 2023/988, is the EU’s baseline safety law for non-food consumer products. It has applied since 13 December 2024 and covers products sold to people in the EU — in shops, on your own website or through marketplaces — unless a more specific law covers the same risk (for example the Toy Safety Directive for toys).

If your brand is outside the EU, five things matter most.

1. Someone in the EU must be responsible for the product

A product can only be placed on the EU market if an economic operator established in the EU is responsible for it. That can be:

• the manufacturer, if it is established in the EU;
• an importer established in the EU;
• an authorised representative appointed in writing by the manufacturer; or
• a fulfilment service provider (warehousing, packing and shipping) when none of the above exists.

Their name, postal address and electronic contact must appear on the product, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document. See our guide to the EU responsible person.

2. The product and packaging must carry identification and contact details

• A type, batch or serial number or another element that identifies the product.
• The manufacturer’s name, registered trade name or trade mark, postal address and an electronic address (email or website).
• The responsible person’s details if the manufacturer is outside the EU.
• Warnings and safety information in a language consumers in each country can easily understand.

If the product is too small, the information can go on the packaging or an accompanying document. Our label generator puts all of this on one label in the languages you need.

3. Online listings must show the same information

Under Article 19, each distance-selling offer must clearly show the manufacturer’s details, the EU responsible person (when the manufacturer is outside the EU), information to identify the product including a picture, and any warnings or safety information. Marketplaces have added dedicated fields for this.

4. Keep a risk analysis and technical documentation

Before placing a product on the market, the manufacturer must carry out an internal risk analysis and draw up technical documentation — a description of the product and its safety features, the risks considered and how they were addressed, and any test reports. Keep it for 10 years and be ready to show it to market surveillance authorities.

5. Report accidents and handle recalls

If a product causes an accident or you learn it is dangerous, you must act without delay: notify the authorities through the Safety Business Gateway, inform consumers, and organise a recall or other corrective action. Provide a way for customers to report safety problems, such as an email address or form.

Quick checklist

Other rules often apply alongside the GPSR: packaging EPR in each country, WEEE for electronics, the Batteries Regulation, CE marking for toys and electrical products. Run the free compliance check to see which apply to you.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR)
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance, Article 4
• Safety Gate (European Commission)

ohdock provides software tools and general information, not legal advice. Check the official texts, or ask a qualified adviser, for your situation.