General Product Safety
Introduction to the General Product Safety on the EU Market
General Product Safety Directive is the catch-all of product compliance for products which are specifically excluded from other legislations or those which do not have a more suitable path to conformity.
Examples of products falling under the GPSD include:
- Low Voltage products falling below 50 V
- Candles
- Hair & beauty accessories, brushes and mirrors
- Jewelry
- Household goods
- General consumer goods
EU General Product Safety Legislation
Until the publication of the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC on December 3, 2001 and the subsequent 3 year transition period, the General Product Safety Directive 92/59/CEE was the reigning legal framework for general product safety products.
From January 14, 2004, the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC became fully applicable in the EU as the only legal framework for low voltage products.
Key Facts
- Any product to made available in the EU Market (either through e-commerce or brick-and-mortar) must comply with the GPSD
- Non-EU manufacturers wishing to make their products available to EU citizens should appoint a professional Authorized Representative
- Manufacturer is defined as:
any natural or legal person who manufactures a product or has such a product designed or manufactured, and markets that product under his name or trademark
- CE Marking is strictly prohibited for products falling under the GPSD - improper application of the CE Marking will serve as a red flag for Competent Authorities as they conduct their surveillance activities
- Intervention of a Notified Body is not required for any conformity assessment procedures described in this Directive
- Products which fail to comply may be subject to public notification (RAPEX), withdrawal/recall requirements, warehousing fees, fines or total destruction of the products
- Each EU Member State is responsible for conducting their own market surveillance in order to verify compliance of products made available
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