Overview

Effective from 13th December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) aims to ensure the sale of safe products to buyers in the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland (NI). This regulation applies to both new and second-hand products sold in these markets, and it introduces specific requirements for businesses regarding product safety information. You can find the link to full article here.

Up till the 13th December  2024 our products are compliant with the General Product Safety Directive.

Article 51 of the GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) states that EU countries should not block the sale of products that were first made available for distribution, consumption, or use in the EU market before 13 December 2024. This is as long as the product complies with the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EG).
 
In simpler terms, this means you may not need to update your product listings with the extra information required by the GPSR if:

• The product complies with the General Product Safety Directive.
• It was introduced to the EU or Northern Ireland market before 13 December 2024.

For example, if you're selling a product that meets these conditions and/or the manufacturer is no longer in business, you likely won’t need to include additional details like manufacturer information in your listings.

That said, we are implementing procedures to ensure that all required information is displayed on our websites, providing you with everything you need to work in compliance with the GPSR. Our aim is to include this information for all new products placed on the market after 13 December 2024. When possible, we will also update older product listings to include this information. 

To comply with the GPSR and related regulations, all business sellers listing items for sale in the EU and NI must include the following information:

- The product manufacturer's name and contact information.

- If the manufacturer isn’t located in the EU or NI, you’ll have to indicate an EU-based Responsible Person or entity, along with their name and contact details.

- Any relevant product information like model number, pictures, and type.

- Product safety and compliance information like warnings and safety information (which can be included in labels and product manuals) in the local language.

- The CE marking when required by the related regulations applicable to your product.

Most of these requirements are already addressed on our cosmetic and fragrance product labels, as well as on our websites with attached PDF files. We are committed to complying with this legislation and will be adding more information, the rest of the product lines and  for the new product lines we introduce after 13th December 2024.

If you have questions about our approach to the GPSR, please feel free to contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. We are here to answer your questions.

What does the Responsible Person need to do?

The EU or NI-based Responsible Person is in charge of specific tasks related to compliance and product safety, including:

- Checking that the EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and other technical documentations are in order, and providing them to the market surveillance authorities to demonstrate the conformity of the product

- Informing the market surveillance authorities about dangerous products and accidents through the EU Safety Business Gateway

- Cooperating with the market surveillance authorities and ensuring the necessary actions are taken to rectify any non-compliance issues

- Providing documented evidence of the checks that were performed, if requested by the authorities

What type of information do I need to include?

You’ll have to display any applicable instructions, warnings for safe use and disposal, and safety information for the product you’re selling. This information must be presented in the local language of the country where your item is being sold. You can include an image (a pictogram, a symbol, or a label), a statement (safety warnings or chemical hazard warnings), a product manual, or any other document that contains this information. The supported file formats are .pdf, .jpg, and .png.

Which categories are excluded from the GPSR?

The following products and categories are excluded from the General Product Safety Regulation: Medicinal products, Food and feed products, Living animals and plants, Genetically modified organisms and microorganisms, Animal by-products, Plant protection products, also referred to as pesticides, Plant and animal products related to their reproduction, Antiques,  Certain types of aircraft, Travel equipment operated by a service provider to transport consumers, Products that need to be repaired, reconditioned, or recycled prior to being used and are clearly marked as such.

Who can be the Responsible Person?

The Responsible Person can be one of the following and must be located in the EU or NI:

- The manufacturer 

- An importer, if the manufacturer is not established in the EU or Northern Ireland 

- An authorised representative of the manufacturer

- A  fulfilment service provider if the manufacturer, importer, and authorised representative aren’t based in the EU or NI 

Is the GPSR applicable to products sold in the UK?

The GPSR doesn’t apply to the UK, but it does apply to Northern Ireland. Sellers listing our products online can still include details about the manufacturer and EU Responsible Person, as well as product safety and compliance information.

Where can I find the above information?

This information can be found on the product, on its packaging, or in any accompanying documents. You can also reach out to us (the product manufacturer) if you don’t have this information.

What are the details of the Responsible Person for Aw-Aromatics Products in UK/EU?

UK RP  : AW Aromatics Ltd, Unit 10-15 Parkwood Business Park, S3 8AL, Sheffield  | +44 (0)1143 830 344 

EU RP : Ancient Wisdom s.r.o., CTPark Trnava, Prílohy, 919 26 Zavar, Slovakia. | +421 (0)33 558 60 71

Please note that Agnes+Cat can't provide legal advice, and these FAQs only constitute general information. For detailed advice on how the General Product Safety Regulation and other regulations apply to you and your specific products and listings, please reach out to your legal counsel.