GPSR: General Product Safety Regulations
We've partnered with trusted GPSR service provider, Webinterpret, to offer you 10% off Responsible Person services
What is GPSR?
The General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) came into place on 13 December 2024 and affect products sent to the EU and Northern Ireland.
New regulations were put in place to make sure products being shipped to the EU are safer for consumers and guidelines are clearer for businesses. Risk assessments will be more thorough and marketplaces will be under stronger surveillance by regulatory bodies.
We’ve outlined the key information you need to know to help you understand the new legislation in simple terms.
GPSR Responsible Person
The main difference for UK-based businesses and online sellers is that you are now required to have a ‘responsible person’ located in the EU or NI. You need to include the address of the responsible person with your shipment - whether on your product labels or in documentation (we recommend both!)
The EU or NI-based responsible person is in charge of specific tasks related to compliance and product safety. These tasks include:
Checking that the EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and other technical documentations are in order, and providing them to the market surveillance authorities
Informing the market surveillance authorities about dangerous products and accidents through the EU Safety Business Gateway
Cooperating with the market surveillance authorities and ensuring the necessary actions are taken to rectify any non-compliance issues
Providing documented evidence of the checks that were performed, if requested by the authorities
Who can be a GPSR ‘Responsible Person’?
Your responsible person must be located in Northern Ireland or the EU and can be:
The manufacturer - if your items are manufactured in NI or the EU
An authorised representative of the manufacturer
An importer - if your products are not manufactured in NI or the EU
A fulfilment service provider - if none of the above are located in NI or the EU
There are many online service providers available to act as responsible person, ensuring your products comply with EU safety requirements.
Some services act as the responsible person and may offer additional support, such as reviewing product labels. This support can vary by provider, so it’s a good idea to compare options before making a decision.
Trusted GPSR Service Providers
It's important to know which service providers you can trust to be your responsible person. Here’s some reputable representatives that we recommend:
We're working with Obelis and Webinterpret to make shipping to the EU as straightforward as it needs to be. And you can get 10% off GPSR services with Webinterpret, exclusive to Parcel2Go.
GPSR Labelling Requirements
There’s no specific labelling requirements that apply to GPSR, but you do need to make sure you provide:
The address of your responsible person
Any instructions, warnings, disposal instructions, and safety information of your products e.g. via a product manual
Often, the above information is included in any documents that the manufacturer includes with your product.
Our Top Tips
You need to include the address of the responsible person with your shipment - we recommend including more than one copy just in case. Include the address of your responsible person on your product labels, inside your parcel, and keep a copy for your own records.
Who Does GPSR Affect?
The GPSR regulations affect businesses selling from the UK to the EU and Northern Ireland, whether that’s through a marketplace such as eBay or Amazon, or through your own website.
Part of the move to increase product safety means online marketplaces are under more scrutiny. For business sellers, marketplaces can remove your product listings, suspend your account, or even fine you if you consistently don’t comply with regulations. More often than not, eBay will simply hide your listings.
GPSR doesn't usually apply to private individuals that sell one off items in a non-commercial capacity - for example, if you've sold second hand items or personal belongings on marketplaces like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace.
What Products Does GPSR Apply to?
GPSR applies to most products whether new or used. There are a handful of products that GPSR regulations don’t apply to - products that already have their own strict safety checks in place.
You can read the full GPSR guidelines on gov.uk to understand exactly what’s included. And remember to check our prohibited item list before you send and make sure your parcels aren’t restricted in the country you’re shipping to.
Parcel2Go cannot provide legal advice and this information is a summary based on general information. For more specific advice and details, visit gov.uk or seek legal counsel before shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GPSR regulation 2024?
The General Product Safety Requirements came into place on 13 December 2024. The new legislation is a way for the EU to put extra safety checks on products that don’t already have strict safety checks in place.
Sellers shipping from the UK to Northern Ireland or the EU are now required to have a ‘responsible person’. You need to include the address of that person on the labels or documents of your shipped products.
For more information, read our detailed page above.
Does GPSR apply to private sellers?
Yes, GPSR applies to anyone shipping sold items from the UK to the EU and Northern Ireland. This includes private sellers and people selling on marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
If you’re sending a gift to the EU, you don’t need to worry about GPSR.
Does GPSR apply to the UK?
GPSR applies to products sent from the UK to Northern Ireland and the EU. So while you do need to comply with General Product Safety Regulations when sending to Northern Ireland, you don’t need to if shipping within England, Wales, and Scotland.
If you’re shipping from the UK to Northern Ireland, you’ll need to have a responsible person and include their address on your shipping label or in your documentation.
Read our full page above to find everything you need to know on GPSR.
What is GPSR compliance?
GPSR compliance means that as a seller you will:
have a responsible person in the EU or Northern Ireland (dependent on your parcel’s destination).
include the address of the responsible person on your label or documentation (or both!)
include any instructions, warnings, disposal instructions, and safety information of your products e.g. via a product manual, with your items
keep detailed records of your international orders in case requested
GPSR is just a way for the EU to make sure products are safe for consumers. If your products are safe and you include an address for a responsible person, you don’t need to worry about your parcels reaching their destination.