Product safety: New General Product Safety Regulation

In December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation will enter into application and replace the General Product Safety Directive. From this point on, a modernised future-proof framework will apply to ensure the safety of products on the EU market, regardless of the origin of the products and whether they are sold in shops or online. It will significantly improve the enforcement of product safety rules, steamline market surveillance and the recalling of dangerous non-food products (see information by the European Commission).

“Product safety is the backbone of consumer protection. Today,  even the most ordinary objects surrounding us are the result of complex processes that could potentially be harmful. Throughout the years, we have developed a comprehensive and modern instrument to tackle the presence of dangerous products on our market and ensure the safety of the goods on our shelves. The record number of alerts on Safety Gate prove the efficiency of our cooperation and tools, which is only set to increase with the upcoming application of the General Product Safety Regulation.” Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice

In this webinar recording, Anthony Buckley gives an overview of the new General Product Safety Regulation - the key aspects to consider such as the scope, some definitions, obligations of parties and other provisions. The impact on customs is also discussed.