GPSR label requirements for small sellers
The EU General Product Safety Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, applies to consumer products placed on the market in the EU and Northern Ireland from 13 December 2024. Here is what it means for the label on your product and the text in your listing.
Who it applies to
- Consumer products sold to buyers in the EU or Northern Ireland, new or second-hand.
- Sellers based anywhere, including the US, UK and Asia, when they sell to EU or NI buyers online.
- Products with their own EU rules (cosmetics, toys, electrical goods, food) follow those rules too. GPSR fills the gaps.
What goes on the product
Article 9 sets out what the manufacturer has to show. Put it on the product itself. If the product is too small or its nature doesn’t allow it, use the packaging or a document that comes with the product.
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| Product identifier: type, batch or serial number, or another element | “LOT 2026-11-A” or “Model LD-200” |
| Manufacturer name, registered trade name or mark | Northwind Goods LLC |
| Manufacturer postal address and electronic address | 12 Pine St, Portland OR, USA · help@… |
| Instructions and safety information, where needed for safe use, in a language consumers can easily understand | “Never leave a burning candle unattended.” in the buyer’s language |
The EU responsible economic operator
Under Article 16, a product can only be placed on the EU or NI market if there is a responsible economic operator established there. This can be:
- the manufacturer, if it is established in the EU or NI;
- an authorised representative appointed by the manufacturer;
- the importer;
- a fulfilment service provider, if none of the above is established there.
Sellers outside the EU usually appoint an authorised representative service. Their name and contact details go on the product, packaging or accompanying document.
What goes in your online listing
For distance sales, Article 19 asks the listing to show, clearly and visibly:
- the manufacturer’s name, registered trade name or mark, and postal and electronic address;
- if the manufacturer is not established in the EU, the name and contact details of the responsible person in the EU;
- information that identifies the product, including a picture, its type and any other identifier;
- any warning or safety information that goes on the product or with it, in a language consumers can easily understand.
Etsy, Amazon and eBay have added product safety fields for this. On Shopify you usually add it to the product description or a metafield shown on the product page.
Common questions from sellers
Do I need a barcode?
No. An identifier can be a type, batch or serial number. A barcode is a marketplace or retail requirement, not a GPSR one. If you want one, our free EAN-13 generator draws it as a vector.
My product is tiny, like earrings. What then?
Put the details on the packaging, a backing card or a document that ships with the product.
Which languages?
Safety information has to be in a language that consumers in the country you sell to can easily understand, as decided by that member state. If you sell to Germany, provide German.
Checklist
- Identifier on every unit (batch, type or serial number).
- Manufacturer name, postal and electronic address on product, packaging or accompanying document.
- EU or NI responsible economic operator in place, and their details shown if you’re outside the EU.
- Warnings and instructions translated for each country you sell to.
- The same details in every online listing before checkout.