Modernised EU product safety rules to apply from today

Statement by Internal Market committee Chair Anna Cavazzini on the start of application of the General Product Safety Regulation.

Today, 13 December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) enters into application, replacing the General Product Safety Directive from 2001. The revamped rules will ensure the safety of products on the EU market, regardless of their origin and whether they are sold in shops or online.

The GPSR will significantly improve the enforcement of product safety rules, stream-line the work of market surveillance authorities and recall procedures of dangerous non-food products.

Statement by Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer protection committee:

“As 2024 draws to a close, many Europeans are shopping for gifts, offline and online. With new product safety rules in effect, consumers can be more confident the products they buy meet the highest safety standards. These rules take into account risks for the most vulnerable groups, like children and persons with disabilities, as well as cybersecurity concerns for digital products.

“The new regulation also gives national market surveillance authorities more powers to ensure safety compliance and take action, like ordering online marketplaces to quickly take down dangerous products from their websites.

“This means presents under the Christmas tree will be safer for European consumers, even as we see more and more people making purchases from sellers based outside of the EU. Thanks to new provisions, foreign manufacturers must meet the same high standards as the EU counterparts, including establishing a contact point responsible for product safety based in the EU.

“In the event an unsafe product is detected, it will be easier to recall it and directly inform consumers of any incidents, as well as their consumer rights going forward.

However, since we negotiated this file last legislature, the share of e-commerce has grown rapidly and with it, the number of unsafe products arriving on consumers' doorsteps. We are therefore eagerly awaiting the European Commission's upcoming communication on e-commerce, as well as faster implementation of parts of the EU Customs Code reform".