Skip to main content
All postsGPSR blog

GPSR basics

Every GPSR guide filed under GPSR basics, in plain English for sellers shipping into the EU.

Browse by topic

An assortment of consumer products on a table, some in and some out of GPSR scope
7 min read

GPSR Exemptions: Which Products Are Out of Scope (and Which Only Look Exempt)

A lot of sellers assume their product is exempt from GPSR. Most are wrong. Here's what's genuinely out of scope, and why 'my product has its own safety law' rarely means 'no GPSR work'.

A warehouse worker checking the underside of a cardboard product box near a shipping pallet
7 min read

GPSR vs UKCA Marking: What's the Difference?

GPSR is a safety regulation. UKCA is a marking regime. One covers the EU, the other covers Great Britain, and neither replaces the other. Here's what each one means and what you actually need.

A printed list of requirements ticked off on a wooden desk beside shipping boxes
8 min read

GPSR Requirements: What the Regulation Actually Asks of You (2026)

GPSR doesn't ask for one thing. It asks for a few, and they change depending on whether you're the manufacturer, the importer, or just the seller. Here is the full list, by role.

A warehouse worker checks a parcel against a clipboard before it ships.
12 min read

What is GPSR? The General Product Safety Regulation explained for sellers outside the EU (2026)

GPSR is the General Product Safety Regulation, the EU's product safety law. Here's who it covers, the four things it asks of you, what it costs, and how to get compliant before your listings get pulled.

A stack of cardboard shipping boxes on a warehouse pallet ready for export
7 min read

Is GPSR Mandatory? Yes, and Here's Exactly Why

GPSR has been in force since December 13, 2024, and it applies to everyone selling consumer goods to the EU. No small-business exemption. No skipping it. Here's why it's mandatory and what you actually have to do.

A solo shop owner works at a small desk packing orders next to a laptop and a stack of shipping boxes.
9 min read

GPSR for Small Businesses: Affordable Compliance That Actually Works

No, your tiny shop isn't exempt from GPSR. But compliance can cost as little as ~€220 a year. Here's the real minimum: a budget Responsible Person, your own labels, and a self-written risk assessment.

Rows of labeled archive boxes and binders stacked on metal shelving in a storage room
7 min read

How Long Must You Keep GPSR Documents? The 10-Year Rule Explained

GPSR sets a 10-year retention rule for technical documentation. Here is exactly when the clock starts, what counts as technical documentation, and the trap that catches sellers who stop selling early.

A customs inspection officer in a high-visibility vest examining shipping cartons on a warehouse loading dock
7 min read

Who Enforces GPSR? The Authorities That Can Pull Your Listings

GPSR is enforced country by country. National market surveillance authorities like France's DGCCRF and Germany's BAuA do the checking, fining, and recalling. Amazon and Etsy enforce too. Here's how it actually works.

An open ring binder of printed regulatory documents on a desk beside a laptop and a packed cardboard shipping box
11 min read

EU Regulation 2023/988 (GPSR): A Plain-English Summary for Sellers

Regulation (EU) 2023/988 replaced a patchwork of national laws with one EU rulebook. Here is what it says, article by article, and what each clause means for the way you sell.

Person packing a single used item into a cardboard box at a kitchen table
7 min read

Does GPSR Apply to Private Sellers or Only Businesses?

The regulation exempts genuine private sellers. Marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy do not. Here's how the two rules collide and what it means for you.

A wall calendar with a date circled in red marker next to a pen
7 min read

When Did GPSR Come Into Effect? The 13 December 2024 Deadline Explained

Two dates matter for GPSR. It entered into force on 12 June 2023, but the rules only became mandatory on 13 December 2024. Here is what each date means for you.

A cardboard parcel with a customs declaration form on a wooden table next to a roll of packing tape
7 min read

Can I Sell to the EU Without GPSR Compliance?

You can't sell consumer products into the EU and skip GPSR. Here's why the regulation leaves no revenue exemption, why a fulfillment address won't save you, and what compliance actually costs.

A small business owner packing a cardboard parcel at a wooden workshop table surrounded by handmade products
9 min read

GPSR Compliance Tools: The Real Options for Non-EU Sellers (2026)

Manual, DIY template, software, or done-for-you? Here's what GPSR compliance tools actually cost in 2026, why most bundle a Responsible Person you may not need, and how to pick without overpaying.

A wooden rubber stamp and ink pad resting on a stack of printed paper documents on a desk
9 min read

GPSR Certification Explained: What Online Sellers Actually Need

Sellers comb Amazon, Etsy, and forums looking for a 'GPSR Certificate' to upload. It does not exist. GPSR is self-declared conformity, not third-party certification. Here is what you actually need to hold.

Cardboard parcels held at a customs inspection counter in a warehouse
7 min read

What Happens If You Don't Comply With GPSR?

GPSR sets no EU-wide fine cap, so penalties depend on the country. The faster pain is your listing getting deactivated. Here's the full picture of what non-compliance costs you.

Warehouse worker checking a cardboard parcel against a clipboard before shipping
9 min read

GPSR vs CE Marking: What's the Difference? (2026)

A CE certificate from your supplier does not make you GPSR compliant. Here is what each rule covers, which products need both, and how to stop confusing them.

A printed product label on the bottom of a cardboard box showing a company name and address
10 min read

GPSR Article 9 Explained: Documentation Requirements Made Simple

Article 9 is the operational engine of the GPSR. It tells you exactly what to document, print, and store before you sell. Here is what each clause means, with the official text quoted directly.

Rows of second-hand goods on wooden shelves inside a thrift store
7 min read

Does GPSR Apply to Used and Second-Hand Goods?

GPSR applies to used products the same way it applies to new ones. The question that decides your obligations is not the product's age. It is whether you sell as a business.

A person at a desk reviewing printed invoices and a calculator next to a laptop
8 min read

GPSR Compliance Cost: A Realistic 2026 Budget Breakdown

Sellers quote everything from £140 a year to €2,000 per product for GPSR. Here's where the money actually goes, which costs are one-time, and how product grouping cuts the bill.

Your GPSR documents, ready before you list.

Answer a few questions about your product. Download the technical file, risk assessment, and label in minutes.

Start freeSee pricing