What EU Sellers Need to Know About the GPSR Amazon

The European business sector, predominantly comprised of small or medium-sized enterprises. Amazon contributes to ecommerce employment with over 275,000 sellers as of June 19, 2024. The General Product Safety Regulation or GPSR Amazon is a very important framework that all Amazon EU sellers need to familiarize themselves with to ensure compliance and maintain their businesses’ operations in Europe markets.

GPSR Amazon

What is GPSR?

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a newly implemented regulatory standard in the European Union designed to enhance consumer safety by ensuring that all products sold in the EU market meets the defined safety standards. 

This regulation places the previous General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), introducing strict requirements and new obligations for sellers and manufacturers. 

The GPSR aims to address gaps left by its predecessor, particularly in adapting safety standards to emerging technologies and evolving market dynamics. 

Why is GPSR Important for Amazon EU Sellers?

EU sellers on platforms like Amazon need to prioritize GPSR compliance to avoid potential fines, penalties, or restrictions on their listings. 

The GPSR regulation is necessary in maintaining trust within the EU consumer market, which highly values product safety and transparency. 

Failure to comply with the GPSR requirements can lead to legal repercussions and removal of non-compliant listings from Amazon platforms. For EU sellers, aligning with GSPR is not only a legal obligation but also a critical component in sustaining customer loyalty and protecting brand reputation. 

Moreover, GPSR aligns closely with Amazon’s operational policies, which emphasizes providing a safe and trustworthy marketplace.

What Products Does GPSR Apply to?

The EU GPSR regulation applies to all consumer products marketed within the EU, excluding certain categories already covered by specific legislation. For Amazon EU sellers, this means that virtually every product listed on the platform needs to meet GPSR standards. 

Products not specifically regulated by other EU directives, such as toys, cosmetics, or medical devices, are the primary focus of GSPR. This regulation aims to make sure that even general-use products, including electronics, home goods, and textiles, meet stringent safety guidelines. 

GPSR also addresses the safety of products that integrate new technologies, such as connected devices and artificial intelligence. Sellers dealing with such products need to ensure that any potential risks arising from digital features are identified and mitigated.

Key Requirements for Amazon Sellers

To comply with GPSR, Amazon EU sellers need to go through several steps to make sure that their products meet the updated safety standards: 

1. Risk Assessment and Documentation

Sellers need to conduct thorough risk assessments for each product and maintain comprehensive documentation detailing the safety measures taken to mitigate potential hazards, where this documentation might be requested by enforcement authorities at any time. 

2. Clear Product Information

Products need to include clear labeling and user instructions to guide consumers on safe usage and maintenance, including warnings, safety notices, and disposal guidelines where applicable. 

3. Traceability Requirements

Sellers need to make sure traceability of their products by providing detailed information about the supply chain, including the identification of manufacturers, importers, and distributors. 

4. Product Testing and Certifications

Sellers might need to perform rigorous product testing to meet safety benchmarks, especially for high-risk products. Certifications and declarations of conformity should be readily available to prove compliance. 

5. Post-Market Surveillance

Under GPSR, sellers are obligated to monitor their products after they enter the market, involving collecting consumer feedback, investigating complaints, and promptly addressing any identified risks. 

What happens on Amazon from December 13, 2024

Beginning on December 13, 2024, Amazon will implement GPSR compliance checks for all products listed on its EU platform. Sellers will need to verify their products align with the regulation’s requirements before listing or continuing to sell. 

Amazon may also introduce additional tools and systems to facilitate compliance, including enhanced verification processes during product listing, automated alerts for non-compliant items, and stricter monitoring of seller activity. 

Sellers who fail to meet Amazon GPSR standards might face negative consequences such as product removal, account suspension, or legal action from EU enforcement authorities, and as a result, it is important for all Amazon EU sellers to review their product offerings and take proactive steps towards compliance. 

UK vs EU Requirements

While the GPSR is specific to the EU market, sellers operating in the Amazon UK need to go through a different, separate but related regulatory framework. 

After Brexit, the UK implemented its product safety regulations, which differ slightly from EU requirements. 

Key distinctions include the specific enforcement authorities, documentation formats, and potential variances in product labeling guidelines. 

Sellers need to carefully assess the requirements for each market to avoid confusion and ensure compliance. 

Amazon sellers operating across both regions should develop robust systems to manage these differences efficiently. With dedicated compliance resources or consulting with regulatory experts can help with complexities.