On Thursday 30 March, the European Parliament gave its final approval to new EU rules on general product safety to better protect consumers in the growing online markets, taking into account technological risks.
By adopting the report by Dita Charanzová (Renew Europe, Czech) by 569 votes to 13, MEPs confirmed the provisional interinstitutional agreement reached with the EU Council at the end of 2022 on the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) (see EUROPE 13073/2).
This regulation will replace an outdated 2001 directive to ensure the same high level of safety, whether products are sold in shops or on online marketplaces and regardless of their origin.
Thus, a product can only be sold on the single market if there is an economic operator established in the EU who is responsible for its safety. The regulation will require a single contact point for national supervisors and consumers.
All companies will have to keep track of all their suppliers and the companies they sell to, to ensure the traceability of hazardous products.
Access to information for consumers will be improved to prevent them from continuing to use recalled dangerous products. Consumers will have the possibility to bring class actions. The regulation will also allow market surveillance authorities to act more quickly.
Charanzová welcomed a “safety net” based on a risk-based approach “that will allow consumers to feel free to shop anywhere in Europe” in complete safety. She highlighted that in 2020, 50% of notified dangerous products, including toys, came from China (see EUROPE 13140/15). Once adopted, the regulation will apply before the end of 2024, “as early as Christmas”.
“The Commission will do everything in its power to facilitate the swift and correct implementation of the regulation by all stakeholders”, said Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans.
See the text: https://aeur.eu/f/4zf (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)