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Revision of the General Product Safety Directive

Schedule

EU Ministers of the Competitiveness Council (COMPET) are expected to discuss the proposal for a Regulation on the revision of General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC in November.

The Rapporteur for the lead EP Committee “Internal Market and Consumer Protection”   (IMCO) MEP Dita Charanzová (Renew, Czechia) will finalise the draft report on 17 November 2021and will be discussed by the Committee on 9 December.

The European Parliament and the council aim at reaching a first reading agreement on the proposal. The final vote in Plenary is expected in April 2022.

Background and main provisions

The General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) aims to ensure high levels of product safety for consumer products placed on the market in the EU and not covered by sector-specific legislation. If there are no regulations or EU standards-referenced, the product's compliance is determined according to other reference documents such as other European standards, national or international standards, Commission recommendations, or codes of practice.

The initiative revising General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC is expected to update the existing rules to address challenges linked to new technologies and online sales. At the same time, it aims at addressing the need for more concrete actions on online selling. It would also update the general legal framework on product safety. 

It would also fill the existing gap between harmonised and non-harmonised products as far as market surveillance is concerned, in the light of  Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on Market surveillance

The revision would also aim to improve the effectiveness of product recalls and the coverage of new products safety risks. It would also strengthen the enforcement powers of Member States in particular in relation to import controls.

This directive does not cover pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food, which are regulated separately.