As you may already be aware, there are new requirements for most non-food consumer products offered for sale in the EU.
You might need to supply additional data to marketplaces for your products, and make changes to the labelling of products.
Please read on to find out about the newest changes. The material below is for informational purposes only and is an introduction to the new legislation. It is not intended as legal advice.
When
On Dec 13th, 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation will become applicable. It replaces the GPSD and EU Directive on dangerous products resembling foodstuffs. All listings on marketplaces must comply with the GPSR requirements otherwise they may be removed. This includes cases where information has been submitted, but the marketplace finds it to be invalid, or the contract with the service provider acting as the Responsible Person has ended.
Which territories are affected
EU-based stores are affected. i.e. you must submit the required information if you sell into the EU. The GPSR will not apply in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). It will, however, apply in Northern Ireland, under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Which products are affected
Most non-food consumer products that are offered for sale in the EU are in scope of the GPSR, including used, repaired and reconditioned products, and spare parts.
There are some exceptions, which include the following:
- Medicinal products for human or veterinary use
- Food and drinks
- Animal feed
- Living plants and animals (including genetically modified organisms and genetically modified microorganisms in contained use, as well as products of plants and animals relating directly to their future reproduction)
- Animal by-products and derived products
- Plant protection products (for example, pesticides)
- Equipment on which consumers ride or travel when that equipment is directly operated by a service provider within the context of a transport service provided to consumers and not operated by the consumers themselves
- Aircraft
- Antiques
Requirements
- Ensure all your EU sold products and listings adhere to the latest labelling and traceability standards
- Ensure there is an EU Based responsible person for each of your products sold on an EU store
- Include the responsible person’s contact information on the physical product, packaging or accompanying document
- You must display the responsible person’s contact information with the offer on the product detail page
- Display the manufacturers name and contact details on the product detail page
- Ensure your physical product is affixed with or accompanied with clear instructions and safety information in the language of the country of sale, unless the product can be used safely and as intended without instructions and safety information. This includes toy safety, chemical hazard and any other necessary warning or safety information that is affixed to the products itself, its packaging or is included in its accompanying document. You must also add this to the product detail page
- Label products with at least one product identifies such as type, batch or serial number. Common types of numbers are GTIN and EAN.
Who can be a responsible person?
Responsible person can be one of the following if established in the EU:
- Your manufacturer or brand
- Your importer
- An authorised representative appointment in writing by manufacturer or brand
Resellers
If you’re a reseller of products that are in scope of the GPSR, you must do the following:
- Verify the compliance of your products with existing legislation.
- Provide the manufacturer and Responsible Person information to Amazon.
- Display a product picture.
- Display warning and safety information, if required.
If you don’t have the required information and documents, request them from your supplier as soon as possible. You must ensure that your supplier has a valid contract with the Responsible Person and that the contract covers all of the products you sell.
What documents are needed for GPSR?
- Supported file type: PDF stored in a direct download URL
| Fact sheet (patient) | A single-page document containing essential information about the product, substance, service, or other topic. |
| Fact sheet (provider) | A single-page document containing essential information about the product, substance, service, or other topic. |
| Installation manual | A document explaining how to install the product. |
| Instructions for use | A document explaining the product’s intended purpose, how to use it correctly, and any precautions to be taken. |
| User guide | A document intended to assist users in using the product. |
| User manual | A document that helps in using the product seamlessly by sharing detailed information related to operations, standards, and functionalities. |
| Safety information | A document containing warning and safety information for the product. |
How to provide the information
If you do not use product feeds with ChannelUnity, then you will need to update the information on the marketplace directly. For example with Amazon use either a file template, or use the Manage Inventory page.
Upload via ChannelUnity
If you have product feeds configured for the channel, then you may follow these steps. Please get in touch with support should you need assistance. This providing of data must be done separately for each store.
Five Marketplace fields should be mapped to be able to send all GPSR data (including product document upload).
You must provide the documents, images, or safety attestation separately for each store.
You must map your cart field which holds the relevant data to the following attributes.
ChannelUnity Marketplace Attribute Names
Please note this list is subject to change:
1. Responsible Person Email address: CU Field “G P S R Responsible Person Email”
2. GPSR Safety Attestation [Value should be “yes” if your product doesn’t have any warning and safety information]: CU Field “G P S R Safety Attestation”
3. Manufacturer Email Address: CU Field “Manufacturer Email”
4. Compliance media source location [URL], for example a safety data sheet: CU Field “Compliance Media U R L”
5. Compliance media language (language of the above): CU Field: “Compliance Media Language”
Links for references
Amazon GPSR Information: https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GQAYBJPNAZ2LMDDT
eBay GPSR Information: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/global-sales/general-product-safety-regulation
EU Directive: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1987/357/oj
Summary
Please get in touch with our support team should you have any questions by emailing support@channelunity.com and we will be happy to help.