New EU General Product Safety Regulation - what does it mean for your business?

In May 2023, EU Regulation 2023/988 on General Product Safety will come into force, introducing new rules that are particularly relevant to the e-commerce industry. It aims to ensure that all products available on the EU market, including those sold online, are safe for consumers. The changes will come into force on 13 December 2024, giving businesses time to comply with the new requirements. If you run an online shop, find out what steps you need to take.

What does the new regulation cover?

The Regulation focuses on general product safety and imposes additional obligations on companies selling products to consumers in the European Union. The aim is to bring the law into line with the rapidly changing reality of online sales and to ensure that products sold in both bricks and mortar and online stores meet the same strict safety standards.

Key changes for e-commerce

1. Increased responsibility for online sellers - e-commerce platforms must ensure that the products they sell are safe. The rule is that any online offer to EU consumers is subject to European regulation.
2. Identification of products and producers - every product sold online must be accurately described. Sellers must ensure that information about the manufacturer, imports and any identifying information is readily available to consumers.
3. Response to unsafe products - e-commerce platforms and sellers must respond quickly to information about products that pose a risk. The Regulation imposes obligations to cooperate with regulators and to withdraw unsafe products from their offer.
4. Responsibilities of trading platform providers - marketplaces must implement procedures to ensure that sellers using their services comply with product safety rules. The Regulation also encourages the use of automated technology to detect unsafe products.
5. Monitoring and reporting of accidents - online retailers must monitor any information about potential hazards and report product incidents. If a product has caused an accident, the relevant authorities must be informed, allowing better monitoring of product safety across the European Union.

What do you need to do for your e-commerce business?

1. Update product descriptions - ensure that all products in your online store are accurately described, including manufacturer information, safety instructions and certificates of compliance with EU standards.
2. Implement verification procedures - regularly check that the products available on your site comply with safety requirements. Consider implementing technology to automatically detect illegal products.
3. Respond quickly to warnings and notifications - the Regulation requires e-commerce to respond immediately to notifications from regulators and remove products that pose a risk. An efficient system for handling notifications is key.
4. Ensure product traceability - consumers should be able to easily determine who is responsible for the product they are buying. Ensure that any online listing includes the necessary identifying information.
5. Be ready for inspections - authorities can inspect products sold online at any time to check for compliance with new regulations.

Why it matters?

The new regulation aims to increase consumer safety in the digital age, where online sales are growing at a dizzying rate. For e-commerce businesses, this means increased obligations for quality control and product safety, but also increased consumer confidence in online shopping.

Implementing the new regulations will not only avoid penalties, but also improve customer service and enhance your company's reputation as a responsible seller.

If you would like to read the full text of EU Regulation 2023/988, please click on the link below: Link