The GPSR applies in two main situations:

• When a product has no specific EU safety law; or
• When existing legislation doesn’t cover certain risks.
  
  

It applies to almost all consumer products, from furniture and childcare items to fitness gear and smart devices, but not to food, medicines, chemicals, vehicles, or medical devices, which have their own regulations.

In simple terms, the GPSR works as a safety net. It makes sure that any consumer product sold in the EU, even those with digital or AI features, meets a clear baseline of safety.

Here are some real-world examples:

1. Products without specific EU laws
   Items like childcare articles, furniture, or simple sports equipment fall mainly under the GPSR. For instance, a baby’s high chair must be stable and free of choking hazards. There’s no EU “High Chair Directive,” so the GPSR is the main law ensuring safety. Similarly, a home fitness resistance band that snaps due to poor quality would be deemed unsafe under the GPSR, and authorities could order a recall.

    

2. Products with partial coverage under specific laws
   Some products already fall under harmonised legislation but may still have risks that aren’t fully addressed.

• Example: Electric toy — covered by the Toy Safety Directive. But if it includes a laser pointer, the GPSR requires you to assess and mitigate eye injury risks, even if the toy rules don’t.
• Example: Smart oven — regulated under appliance safety directives (covering fire and electrical hazards). However, if it’s Wi-Fi enabled, the GPSR expects you to consider cybersecurity risks, such as hacking that could cause the oven to switch on remotely.

   

3. Overlap with professional products
   The GPSR mainly targets consumer goods, not items sold exclusively for professional use. But if professional tools or equipment are also marketed to, or realistically used by, consumers, they must meet general consumer safety expectations.

    

Key takeaway
The GPSR applies to all consumer products on the EU market in one form or another. If your product is fully covered by a harmonised law, compliance with that law will usually meet the GPSR’s objectives. But if any safety risk falls outside those rules, or if no harmonised law exists, the GPSR fills the gap.

(Note: The GPSR doesn’t apply to antiques or second-hand products sold specifically for repair or display. But if you sell a used product intended for normal use, it must still be safe under the GPSR.)

If your product already follows a harmonised EU law (like toys, electronics, or machinery), you might wonder: Do I still need to worry about the GPSR? The answer is yes. Some obligations apply to all products, even those already covered by specific directives. These horizontal rules ensure consistent safety practices across the market.

Here are the key GPSR obligations that always apply:

1. General principles and definitions
   Every product must be safe for consumers. The GPSR clarifies what “safe product” means, who counts as an economic operator (manufacturer, importer, distributor), and how authorities cooperate on surveillance.
2. Safety requirements for new or uncovered risks
   Harmonised laws cover known risks, but the GPSR requires you to assess and address any additional risks. For example, low-voltage rules deal with electric shock, but they don’t cover psychological harm or cybersecurity. Under the GPSR, if a risk exists, you must consider it, even if no specific directive mentions it.
3. Distance and online sales obligations
   If you sell online, the GPSR sets extra rules. Product information must be clearly available digitally, and serious incidents must be reported to authorities. For example, a company selling power tools online must comply with the Machinery Directive and GPSR rules on reporting accidents and displaying clear product information.
4. Online marketplace responsibilities
   Platforms like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy now have direct obligations under the GPSR. They must act quickly to remove or block dangerous products, regardless of category, and inform consumers. Marketplaces can no longer claim they’re just “hosts.”
5. Safety Gate and incident reporting
   The EU’s Safety Gate system (formerly RAPEX) remains the main tool for rapid alerts about dangerous products. Under the GPSR, businesses must also use the Safety Business Gateway. This applies whether it’s recalling a faulty hair dryer under the Low Voltage Directive or a stroller under the GPSR.
6. Consumer rights to information and remedy
   If a product turns out unsafe, businesses must inform consumers directly where possible and provide a fair remedy (repair, replacement, or refund). This applies even to CE-marked products under harmonised rules. Safety always comes first.

    

In short, even if your product already meets a specific EU directive, the GPSR adds universal obligations around risk assessment, online sales, marketplace duties, recalls, and consumer rights. Full compliance means following both the product-specific rules and these GPSR-wide requirements.