The new EU product law (General Product Safety Regulations) will be replacing the 2005 General Product Safety Directive (which remains the basis of the UK general regulation after Brexit) on 13th December. UK companies exporting to the EU are in the final stages of preparing for these changes. BHETA encourages its members to seek guidance with any remaining questions and to ensure everything is in order before the new regulations take effect.
Earlier this year, BHETA hosted a webinar in collaboration with our Business Support Provider, Strong & Herd, to inform UK companies exporting to EU countries about the forthcoming changes and the actions required. The session addressed key topics, including the background of the changes, applicable exemptions, new requirements, and recommended steps for compliance. As November comes to a close, we are just a few weeks away from the implementation of the GPSR. Below you can find a reminder of the available resources that can help inform and guide your business actions.
What is The EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)?
The EU Regulation 2023/988 in question covers a wide range of goods, ensuring that products placed on the EU market meet necessary safety, environmental, and quality standards. It aims to improve consumer protection in both online and offline shopping environments. To do so, the regulation introduces new obligations for manufacturers, importers, and distributors to ensure compliance and enforce more consistent market surveillance to identify non-compliant products.
VIEW OFFICIAL EU REGULATION
How does it affect businesses?
The key change that exporters to the EU should be aware of is that, starting from 13th December, all products entering the EU must have an economic operator within the EU responsible for safety matters. While products already covered by other safety regulations, such as CE-marked products, food products or medical products are unaffected, suppliers of goods to the EU that lack a CE mark and are not subject to other safety laws must ensure compliance with the new requirements. This includes having an EU-based address capable of providing customer service support.
GPSR also includes new requirements related to…
- conditions for online and offline sales
- risk assessment standards for manufacturers
- the enforcement powers of national governments
- product recalls and accident reporting
- special conditions for products using new technologies
A slide summary deck by Strong & Herd, outlining the new requirements, is available for BHETA members. To request a copy or learn more about joining the association, please contact our Customer Services team at info@bheta.co.uk or call +44 (0)121 237 1130. Alternatively, visit our Membership page to learn more.
Access free advice from Strong & Herd via the BHETA Export helpline
Founded in 1995, S&H LLP is a leading provider of comprehensive international trade services. They offer expert solutions in export training, export support, import training, and customs compliance, serving as a one-stop resource for businesses navigating global trade. BHETA members can access free advice service as a part of their membership. If you have any questions about the upcoming changes, click the button below and learn how to get in touch with Strong & Herd via our Export helpline.
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