According to trade-e-bility's experience from numerous discussions with customers on the subject of the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the extended importer and distributor obligations of the GPSR are unknown in many cases. An overview by KPMG summarises the new obligations of Article 11 GPSR for importers and Article 12 GPSR for sellers, which we will summarise here shortly:
Importer Obligations according to Article 11 GPSR
- An importer is any natural or legal person established in the EU who places a product from a third country on the market in the Union.
- He must ensure that the producer carries out a risk analysis, prepares technical documentation and has fulfilled the product and producer labelling obligations.
- The importer is also subject to his own labelling obligations, which apply in addition to the producer's labelling.
- In the event of a dangerous product, the importer immediately informs the producer and the market surveillance authorities via the Safety Business Gateway.
- If the product is suspected of not conforming to the GPSR, the importer must not place it on the market.
- The importer shall keep the technical documentation and may also have to provide a risk analysis. The importer also checks the producer's communication channels. If necessary, he sets up his own. Complaints must be investigated independently.
Seller obligations under Article 12 GPSR
- The seller may only make products available on the market for which he can guarantee conformity with the General Product Safety Regulation.
- He must check the type, batch or serial number, the producer's labelling and the enclosed safety information.
- If there is reason to believe that a product does not comply with labelling, instruction or safety information obligations or that it is a dangerous product, the seller must inform the producer or importer immediately and ensure corrective action, which may include withdrawal from the market or a recall.
- Sellers must also report accidents there. They are also responsible for informing the market surveillance authorities via the Safety Business Gateway.
With the GPSR Fast Lane, trade-e-bility offers you a full GPSR service or individual GPSR training so that you can fulfil the GPSR obligations yourself.
Questions about GPSR? The trade-e-bility consulting team will be happy to help you via +49/40/750687-300 or send us an e-mail.
