GPSR for UK sellers
Learn the rules of GPSR for UK sellers, manufacturers and small businesses, appoint an authorised representative, and thrive in the EU market without stress.
Inmaculada Antequera
12/13/2024
Table of Contents
What the EU GPSR Means for Your UK Business
Understanding Your Role in the Supply Chain
Why You Might Need an EU Authorised Representative
Your Key Responsibilities Under GPSR
Common Challenges for UK Businesses and Practical Solutions
A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance
Why KeyAccess is the Right Choice for Small Businesses
Final Thoughts on Making GPSR Compliance Work for You
Useful Links
1. What the EU GPSR Means for Your UK Business
If you’re running a small business or selling products online to EU customers, you’ve likely noticed the new rules introduced by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). These changes are designed to make sure that all products sold in the EU are safe for consumers. However, for UK businesses operating post-Brexit, these regulations mean additional responsibilities.
One of the most important requirements is appointing an EU Authorised Representative if your business doesn’t already have a presence in the EU. This representative acts as your local point of contact for compliance with EU authorities, ensuring your products meet all necessary documentation requirements. Without an authorised representative, your products could be stopped at customs, fined, or banned from the EU market altogether.
2. Understanding Your Role in the Supply Chain
Every business involved in getting products to customers plays a role in the supply chain, and your responsibilities depend on where you fit.
Here are the key roles defined under the GPSR UK:
Manufacturer: Do you design or produce the products? If so, you’re responsible for ensuring they meet safety requirements.
Online Seller: Are you selling directly to EU customers through platforms like Amazon or Etsy? Even small businesses and individual sellers have responsibilities.
Importer: Do you bring goods into the EU from outside? Importers are responsible for verifying compliance.
Distributor: Do you store and sell products from other suppliers? You’re responsible for ensuring the products meet EU safety standards.
Fulfilment Service Provider: Do you handle logistics like warehousing and shipping but don’t own the products? You could share some compliance responsibilities.
If none of these roles are based in the EU, you must appoint an authorised representative to comply with EU regulations.
3. Why You Might Need an EU Authorised Representative
Under the GPSR, every product sold in the EU must have an authorised representative based within the EU.
If your supply chain—manufacturer, importer, or distributor—is entirely outside the EU, and no one has appointed an authorised representative, this responsibility falls to you. Without an authorised representative, your products may face delays, fines, or removal from marketplaces.
Examples of When You’ll Need an Authorised Representative
Amazon Sellers: You import electronic gadgets from China and sell them directly to EU customers. If the manufacturer has not appointed an authorised representative, you need to do so.
Etsy Artisans: You create handmade jewellery in the UK and sell to customers in the EU. As the manufacturer, you’re responsible for appointing a representative to ensure compliance.
Distributors: You source home décor items from Asia to sell in Europe. Without an authorised representative in the supply chain, you must appoint one to avoid regulatory issues.
4. Your Key Responsibilities Under GPSR
To comply with GPSR UK regulations, businesses need to take specific actions to ensure the safety of their products. These include:
Safety Assurance: Ensure your products meet EU safety standards for their category.
Labelling: Include batch numbers, model numbers, and safety warnings in the correct languages for the EU market. Check other mandatory Information on the Product and its Label here.
Technical Documentation: Maintain detailed records, such as safety tests, manufacturing details, and technical analyses, for at least 10 years.
Corrective Actions: Be prepared to withdraw, recall, or correct unsafe products quickly.
Traceability: Know exactly when your products were manufactured and where they are in the supply chain to act fast if needed.
Appointing an EU Authorised Representative can simplify many of these tasks, ensuring your business stays compliant without extra stress.
5. Common Challenges for UK Businesses and Practical Solutions
Navigating EU compliance can be particularly challenging for small businesses in the UK. Here are some common obstacles and how to overcome them:
Costs: Many small businesses fear compliance will break their budget. Affordable services like KeyAccess are tailored to small businesses, ensuring compliance without excessive costs.
Complex Rules: Regulations can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down into manageable steps (as in this guide) makes them easier to follow.
Lack of Awareness: Many small sellers, particularly those on platforms like Etsy, don’t realise they need an authorised representative. Knowing your role in the supply chain is the first step to compliance.
By partnering with the right services, you can tackle these challenges head-on while focusing on growing your business.
6. A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance
Here’s how to ensure your business complies with the GPSR UK:
Know your role in the supply chain.
Appoint an EU Authorised Representative: If no one in your supply chain is based in the EU, this is essential.
Check Your Product Information: Ensure your labels, safety instructions, and packaging marking are correct.
Maintain Records: Keep safety analyses, test results, and technical documentation for 10 years.
Stay Updated: Regularly review updates to the GPSR using trusted resources like the UK government official guidance.
7. Why KeyAccess is the Right Choice for Small Businesses
At Your Compliances, we understand the unique challenges faced by UK-based small businesses and online sellers. That’s why we created KeyAccess, a cost-effective EU Authorised Representative solution designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind.
Here’s why our EU Authorised Representative solution is ideal for sellers like you:
Expert Guidance: We simplify the entire compliance process, handling paperwork and liaising with EU authorities for you.
Affordable Pricing: We understand the financial constraints of small businesses and offer services that fit your budget.
Reliable Support: With KeyAccess, you can focus on growing your business while we ensure compliance.
Contact us and tell us what you need so we can create a tailor-made solution that saves you from having to stop selling in the european union.
8. Final Thoughts on Making GPSR UK Compliance Work for You
Compliance with EU GPSR regulations might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By understanding your role in the supply chain, appointing an authorised representative, and taking proactive steps, you can continue selling to EU customers without disruptions.
Your Compliances is here to support small businesses like yours, ensuring compliance is stress-free and affordable. Let us handle the complexities so you can focus on what you do best—growing your business.
9. Useful Links
UK government's detailed guidance on EU GPSR
Case Studies and Practical Examples
You are a toy manufacturer in the United Kingdom who has just received a significant order from a distributor in Germany. Excited, you begin production; however, everything comes to a halt upon arrival at customs. European authorities request the conformity documentation and an authorized representative within the EU to validate that your toys comply with the GPSR. Without this essential figure, your products cannot enter the European market.
You’ve been selling tech accessories, such as chargers and phone cases, through your Amazon Europe store for a while, and business is going well. But one day, you wake up to an alarming email: Amazon has suspended the sales of your products. The reason? You haven’t designated an authorized representative in the EU, and your products lack the technical documentation required by the GPSR. The result: loss of inventory, unexpected expenses to resolve the issue, and a loss of trust from your regular customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need an EU Authorised Representative if I am a UK distributor or seller?
Yes, if you are a UK-based distributor or seller, you must appoint an EU Authorised Representative if none of the previous operators in your supply chain—such as the manufacturer, importer, or other distributors—are based in the EU or have already appointed one. Without this, your products cannot legally enter or be sold in the EU market.
Are antiques exempt from the GPSR? and what about artisanal products or artworks?
Antiques are exempt from GPSR compliance. However, artisanal products, handcrafted items, and artworks must meet GPSR standards if sold in the EU. This ensures consumer safety and legal compliance.
What are the risks of selling to the EU without an authorised representative?
Without an authorised representative, your products may face customs delays, removal from marketplaces, or fines. This could result in significant financial losses and reputational damage, particularly if your customers experience issues with delayed or blocked shipments.
Does the GPSR apply to handmade products sold on platforms like Etsy?
Yes, if you sell handmade products to EU customers on platforms like Etsy, you are responsible for ensuring compliance with GPSR regulations. If you don’t have an EU base, you must appoint an authorised representative to handle safety documentation and regulatory requirements.
I’m a small UK business, how can I manage compliance without it costing too much?
GPSR compliance might seem expensive, but affordable solutions like KeyAccess are tailored for small UK businesses. KeyAccess ensures compliance at a fraction of the cost of in-house services, helping you save time, money, and effort while staying legal in the EU market.
How do I choose the right EU Authorised Representative for my business?
When selecting an authorised representative, look for a service experienced in working with small UK businesses. They should offer transparent pricing, manage compliance efficiently, and provide reliable communication with EU authorities. Your Compliances’ KeyAccess service specialises in affordable and expert support tailored to your needs.