New rules wanted by the EU to ensure the safety of all non-food consumer products sold offline or online on the EU market came into force today, 13 December 2024.
New rules wanted by the EU to ensure the safety of all non-food consumer products sold offline or online on the EU market came into force today, 13 December 2024.
The rules, contained in the ‘General Product Safety Regulation’, also clarify the obligations for businesses and help to ensure a level playing field. The new directive replaces the current General Product Safety Directive and the Food Imitations Directive, bringing significant improvements for consumers and authorities.
It better addresses the challenges posed by the growth of online sales and direct imports from third countries. It ensures better enforcement and improves the effectiveness of recalls of dangerous products. It also gives consumers the right to redress for unsafe products and provides better communication channels for reporting safety problems. The new rules should also result in significant savings for society and consumers, as avoidable injuries and deaths caused by unsafe products amount to €11.5 billion each year.