GPSR Compliance for Non-EU Sellers
If your business is based outside the EU and sells consumer products to customers in the European Union, most likely, you need to comply with the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).
GPSR applies to consumer products sold in the EU, including products sold online through Amazon, Etsy, Shopify and independent websites. For non-EU sellers, the issue is simple: your business may be outside the EU but if your products are available even online in any EU country, GPSR likely applies to you.
Who does this affect?
This guide is relevant for UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and global sellers, including small businesses, manufacturers, private-label sellers, craft businesses and online sellers, whether they use Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, their own website, or sell to the EU directly.
Common product categories may include stationery, art supplies, accessories, clothing, homeware, toys, lifestyle goods, hobby products and other consumer goods.
The GPSR is designed to ensure that consumer products made available in the EU are safe.
For non-EU sellers, this usually means checking that your product has:
clear manufacturer details;
product identification, such as SKU, batch or model information where relevant;
appropriate safety warnings and instructions;
information in the correct language for each EU country where the product is sold;
you have an EU-based representative;
supporting documentation available if a marketplace or national surveillance authority requests it.
The exact requirements depend on the product, supply chain, sales channel and EU countries where the product is sold.
Do non-EU sellers need an EU Responsible Person?
Many sellers based outside the EU need to check whether there is already an EU-based party responsible for the product. This may be an EU manufacturer, importer, distributor, fulfilment service provider or appointed EU Authorised Representative / Responsible Person.
Where there is no suitable EU-based party in the supply chain, a non-EU seller needs to appoint an EU-based representative. This provides a point of contact for EU market surveillance authorities and supports the seller’s GPSR compliance position.
What about online marketplaces?
Many sellers first become aware of GPSR when Amazon, Etsy or another marketplace requests product safety information.
GPSR is not only about physical labelling. Online listings will also need to show relevant product safety and business information, including manufacturer details, responsible person details where applicable, product identifiers and warnings.
Rombes s.r.o. is based in Slovakia and supports UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand, and other global businesses selling consumer products into the EU.
We can act as your EU GPSR Responsible Person / Authorised Representative, and ensure your GPSR compliance across the board, whether you need a written mandate setup, product documentation checks, control logs, marketplace compliance support, and communication with EU market surveillance authorities where required. Please use this link to contact us.
