What an EU or UK product launch needs, by product type

What does the GPSR require?

The General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 sets the EU's essential safety rules for consumer products and has applied since 13 December 2024. Every economic operator may place or make available on the EU market only safe products. It applies in so far as no specific EU rules with the same objective regulate a product's safety; where a product is subject to specific EU safety requirements, it applies only to the aspects and risks those requirements do not cover.

• It covers new, used, repaired and reconditioned products.
• Before placing a product on the market, the manufacturer carries out an internal risk analysis and draws up technical documentation, kept for 10 years.
• The product carries a type, batch or serial number or other identifier, or has it on the packaging or an accompanying document where size or nature does not allow.
• The manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, and postal and electronic address go on the product, or failing that on its packaging or an accompanying document.
• Instructions and safety information are in a language consumers can easily understand, as decided by the Member State where the product is sold.
• Manufacturers publish channels, such as a phone number, email address or a section of their website, for consumers to complain and report accidents or safety issues.
• A manufacturer who believes a product it placed on the market is dangerous informs the market surveillance authorities immediately, through the Safety Business Gateway.

Products that complied with the old General Product Safety Directive and were placed on the market before 13 December 2024 may still be made available.

When do you need someone established in the EU?

A product covered by the GPSR may not be placed on the EU market unless an economic operator established in the EU is responsible for it (Article 16, headed "responsible person" for products placed on the Union market). The operator carries out the tasks in Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, which has applied since 16 July 2021, sets the same rule for products covered by the EU acts listed in its Article 4(5). As published in 2019, that list includes the acts on toys, electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits, electromagnetic compatibility, radio equipment, restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS), machinery and personal protective equipment.

Cosmetics follow their own rule. The GPSR section containing Article 16 does not apply to products subject to specific requirements imposed by EU harmonisation legislation, which the GPSR defines as the legislation listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and any other EU legislation harmonising the conditions for marketing the products that Regulation covers. Annex I includes the Cosmetic Products Regulation, which requires a Responsible Person within the EU.

Who can be the EU operator

A manufacturer established in the EU; an importer, where the manufacturer is outside the EU; an authorised representative established in the EU with a written mandate from the manufacturer; or, where none of those exists in the EU, an EU fulfilment service provider for the products it handles.

What the EU operator does

• Where the product's legislation requires them, verifies that the EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation exist, keeps the declaration available and makes sure the documentation can be supplied on request.
• On a reasoned request from a market surveillance authority, supplies the information and documentation showing conformity, in a language the authority can easily understand.
• Informs the authorities when there is reason to believe the product presents a risk.
• Cooperates with the authorities, including, following a reasoned request, making sure corrective action is taken.
• Under the GPSR, where appropriate to the product's risks, regularly checks that the product matches its technical documentation and the rules on identification, manufacturer contact details and instructions (Article 9(5) to (7)), and can show evidence of those checks.
• Under the GPSR, has its name, registered trade name or trade mark and postal and electronic address on the product, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document.

What do cosmetics need in the EU?

Under the Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, which has applied since 11 July 2013, a cosmetic may be placed on the EU market only if a legal or natural person within the EU is designated as its Responsible Person. That person makes sure the product meets the Regulation's core obligations.

• For imported cosmetics, the importer is the Responsible Person for the products it places on the market, unless it designates an EU-established person by written mandate, accepted in writing.
• Safety report (CPSR). Before sale, a safety assessment and a cosmetic product safety report in two parts: Part A, safety information, and Part B, the safety assessment, carried out by someone with a university qualification in pharmacy, toxicology, medicine or a similar discipline, or a course a Member State recognises as equivalent.
• Product information file (PIF). It includes a product description, the safety report, the manufacturing method with a statement of good manufacturing practice and, where justified, proof of claimed effects. It is kept for ten years after the last batch was placed on the market and made readily accessible at the Responsible Person's address on the label.
• Notification. Before the product is placed on the market, an electronic notification to the European Commission and, once it is on the market, the original labelling and, where reasonably legible, a photograph of the packaging. Notification is made through the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP), the European Commission's free online notification system for the Regulation.
• Labelling. The Responsible Person's name and address, the country of origin for imports, nominal content, a date of minimum durability or period after opening, precautions for use, a batch number, the product's function where not clear, and an ingredients list, with nanomaterials followed by "(nano)".
• The language of the content, durability, precautions and function information is set by the law of the Member State where the product reaches the end user.
• A distributor that translates any labelling element on its own initiative to sell in another Member State must submit its own notification.

Packaging registration and the PPWR

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 applies from 12 August 2026. Packaging producers carry extended producer responsibility for the packaging they first make available in a Member State, must register in that Member State's producer register, and may not make packaging or packaged products available there unless they, or their authorised representative, are registered.

• A business established in another Member State or outside the EU that sells packaged products directly to end users in a Member State counts as a producer there.
• If you sell directly to end users in a Member State where you are not established, you must appoint an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility there, by written mandate.
• Member States may also require producers established outside the EU to appoint an authorised representative when they first make packaging available.
• Registered producers report data to the register by 1 June for the previous calendar year; the register authority issues a registration number within 12 weeks of complete information.
• Online marketplaces that let consumers make distance contracts with producers must, before letting a producer use their services, obtain its registration details for the Member State where the consumer is located and a self-certification that it meets its extended producer responsibility duties there.
• Member States set up their PPWR registers within 18 months of the entry into force of the first implementing act on the register format, which the Commission was due to adopt by 12 February 2026.

Electrical and electronic products (WEEE)

Since 15 August 2018 the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU applies to all electrical and electronic equipment, subject to its exclusions. It is a Directive, so it reaches businesses through each Member State's national law. Each Member State keeps a register of producers, including those selling at a distance, and a distance seller must be registered in each Member State it sells to. Where it is not registered there itself, the Directive says it registers through an authorised representative under Article 17(2), which covers sellers established in another Member State. How sellers from outside the EU register is set by national law, which this guide does not cover.

• A business in another Member State or outside the EU that sells equipment at a distance directly to users in a Member State counts as a producer there.
• A distance-selling producer established in one Member State appoints an authorised representative in each other Member State it sells to, by written mandate.
• Equipment carries the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol, printed visibly, legibly and indelibly.

Batteries

Under the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, producer registration and extended producer responsibility have applied since 18 August 2025. Producers register in each Member State where they first make a battery available, and batteries, including those built into appliances, may be made available only if the producer or its authorised representative is registered there.

• A business selling batteries, including inside appliances, at a distance directly to end users in a Member State where it is not established counts as a producer there and appoints an authorised representative there, by written mandate, who can register on its behalf.
• Since 18 August 2025 all batteries carry the separate collection symbol, covering at least 3% of the largest side (1.5% of the surface area for cylindrical cells), up to 5 x 5 cm; if it would be smaller than 0.47 x 0.47 cm, a symbol of at least 1 x 1 cm goes on the packaging instead.
• Batteries containing more than 0.002% cadmium or 0.004% lead are also marked Cd or Pb.
• A general-information label applies from 18 August 2026 or 18 months after the labelling implementing act, whichever is later, and a QR code from 18 February 2027.

Registers and schemes by country

The packaging, WEEE and battery registers or schemes listed in Eldris's own country data for each market. The names are Eldris's short labels, not official titles. Eldris's data file records them as web-verified on 31 May 2026; the markets marked * keep earlier entries and may not be covered by that check. Each country links to its page on epr.eldris.ai. The table is licensed CC BY 4.0 (terms).

How this guide was compiled

Every statement about the law on this page is backed by an exact quote from an official source, kept in a claim ledger. The texts were read on 22 September 2026: the six EU acts on EUR-Lex, the European Commission's CPNP page, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and Schedule 34 on legislation.gov.uk, and the GOV.UK guidance on cosmetics in Great Britain. The country table comes from Eldris's own data.

Limits

• The EU acts were read in their original published form. Later amendments were not checked.
• The UK texts were read on legislation.gov.uk: the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 as valid from 27 February 2025, and Schedule 34 as amending text. The consolidated GB version of Regulation 1223/2009 and any UK changes after 27 February 2025 were not checked.
• National rules are not covered: the language each Member State requires, which countries require an authorised representative for packaging from producers outside the EU, national WEEE law, and UK law on packaging, WEEE and batteries.
• Northern Ireland is mentioned only where the texts above address it.
• This page is general information, not legal advice. What applies to your product depends on the product, where you are established, how you sell and where.