Overview
Effective from December 13, 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) aims to ensure the sale of safe products to buyers in the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland (NI). This regulation applies to both new and second-hand products sold in these markets, and it introduces specific requirements for businesses regarding product safety information.
What you need to know
To comply with the GPSR and related regulations, all business sellers listing items for sale in the EU and NI must include the following information:
The product manufacturer's name and contact information
If the manufacturer isn’t located in the EU or NI, you’ll have to indicate an EU-based Responsible Person or entity, along with their name and contact details
Any relevant product information like model number, pictures, and type
Product safety and compliance information like warnings and safety information (which can be included in labels and product manuals) in the local language
The CE marking when required by the related regulations applicable to your product
eBay’s introduced new functionality so it’s easy for you to add this information to your listings, and ensure compliance with the regulation when it takes effect later this year. To add manufacturer and EU Responsible Person details to your listings either individually or in bulk, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
How to add GPSR information on eBay
To add the additional information required by the GPSR to your listings of consumer products on eBay to sell in the EU and NI, you may choose any of the following methods:
*Please note, the screenshots used in the below step-by-step guide for the above methods are taken from www.ebay.com. Hence, the nomenclature or terminology may differ on other eBay websites, however the steps under each method remain the same.Single editing flow
Step 1: Go to Seller Hub → then click Manage Active Listings under the Listing tab.
Step 2: Click Edit next to the listing that you want to edit.
Step 3: Scroll down to the Item disclosures section.
Step 4: Toggle the field where you would like to input the additional information required by the GPSR.
Step 5: Fill in the name, address and contact details of Product Manufacturer or EU Responsible Person.
Step 6: Upload Product Documents (e.g. user manual, installation guide, safety data sheet, certificate).
Please note:
- You may upload up to 10 product documents per listing
- Documents can be in .pdf, .jpg or .png format with a maximum file size of 10MB
- You may specify multiple languages for each document
Step 7: Provide Product Safety Information.
- Choose up to 2 Pictograms and/or up to 8 Safety statements
- You can also add the additional information (maximum 120 characters). The text field does not support URLs. If you want to add a link to provide more information about product, you can update your item description
- If more pictograms or statements are required, you can add a picture to your listing to display the associated product safety information (pictograms and statements)
Bulk editing flow via Bulk Editing Tool
Step 1: Go To Seller Hub → then click Manage Active Listings under the Listing tab.
Step 2: Check the checkbox next to the listings.
Step 3: Click on Edit selected.
Step 4: Check the checkbox next to the listings.
Step 5: Click on Bulk edit.
Step 6: Select Item disclosures.
Step 7: Select the GPSR field to input the information.
Step 8: Fill in the name, address and contact details of Product Manufacturer or EU Responsible Person.
Step 9: Upload Product Documents in a listing using Bulk Editing Tool*.
*Please note that documents must be uploaded individually for each listing, as bulk uploading using the Bulk Editing Tool is not currently supported. However, once you've uploaded the documents for each listing, you can publish them all simultaneously, eliminating the need to handle each listing separately for uploading and publishing.
Step 10: Provide Product Safety Information.
Bulk editing flow via Seller Hub Reports (a.k.a. CSV file)
Step 1: Go To Seller Hub → then click Reports → then click Uploads.
Step 2: Under Select a template, click Get template.
Step 3: For Source: Select template source, choose Listings.
Step 4: For Type: Select template type, choose Edit price and quantity.
Step 5: Click Download.
Step 6: Open the downloaded CSV file.
Step 7: Add the fields for additional information required by the GPSR for revision. In row 2, add the field names for the GPSR information you want to add or update.
To add the details of Product Manufacturer
- To add or update the information for a given item, copy all the field names as shown below and include all the information for each record, even if you are not changing it.
- To delete the manufacturer information against an item, leave all the fields blank.
| Field Name | Description / Tool Tip |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Name | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the Company Name of the Manufacturer. This is a String field e.g., “Abc Inc.” |
| Manufacturer AddressLine1 | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the first line of the address for the Manufacturer. This is a String field e.g., “2105 E Hamilton Avenue” |
| Manufacturer AddressLine2 | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the second line of the address for the Manufacturer. This field is optional. This is a String field e.g,. “52 RUE DES FLEURS” |
| Manufacturer City | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the city for the Manufacturer address. This is a String field e.g., “Paris” |
| Manufacturer Country | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the Country for the Manufacturer address. This field accepts Country Code Enumeration e.g. FR, DE. Refer to the link below for the full list of country codes: https://developer.ebay.com/devzone/xml/docs/reference/ebay/types/countrycodetype.html |
| Manufacturer PostalCode | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the postal code for the Manufacturer address. This is a String field e.g., “70123” |
| Manufacturer StateOrProvince | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the State or Province for the Manufacturer address. This is a String field e.g., “Brittany” |
| Manufacturer Phone | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the Phone number for the Manufacturer. This field is optional. This is a String field e.g., “408-000-0000” |
| Manufacturer Email | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide electronic contact details for the Manufacturer. This field holds the email for the Manufacturer. This is a String field. e.g., “email@eo.com” |
For further details on regulatory contact types, please refer the following help pages:
To add EU Responsible Person
- To add or update EU Responsible Person for a given item, copy all the field names as shown below and include all the information for each record, even if you are not changing it
- To delete the EU Responsible Person information for an item, leave all the fields blank
- Up to 5 EU Responsible Persons can be added per listing by changing the numeric identifier, e.g., “Responsible Person 2”, etc.
| Field Name | Description / Tool Tip |
|---|---|
| Responsible Person 1 | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the Company Name of the EU Responsible Person. This is a String field e.g., “Abc Inc.” You can add up to 5 Responsible Persons along with their contact details |
| Responsible Person 1 Type | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the Type of the Responsible Person. The values could be EU Responsible Person, Distributor, and so on. Refer to this link for the list of values: https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/sell/inventory/types/slr:ResponsiblePersonTypeEnum |
| Responsible Person 1 AddressLine1 | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the first line of the address for the EU Responsible Person. This is a String field e.g., “2105 E Hamilton Avenue” |
| Responsible Person 1 AddressLine2 | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the second line of the address for the EU Responsible Person. This field is optional. This is a String field e.g., “52 RUE DES FLEURS” |
| Responsible Person 1 City | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the city for the EU Responsible Person address. This is a String field e.g., “Paris” |
| Responsible Person 1 Country | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the Country for the EU Responsible Person address. This field accepts Country Code Enumeration e.g. FR, DE. Refer to the link below for the full list of country codes: https://developer.ebay.com/devzone/xml/docs/reference/ebay/types/countrycodetype.html |
| Responsible Person 1 PostalCode | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the postal code for the EU Responsible Person address. This is a String field e.g., “70123” |
| Responsible Person 1 StateOrProvince | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the State or Province for the EU Responsible Person address. This is a String field e.g., “Brittany” |
| Responsible Person 1 Phone | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide physical contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the Phone number for the EU Responsible Person. This field is optional. This is a String field e.g., “408-000-0000” |
| Responsible Person 1 Email | To comply with European Union regulations, Sellers should provide electronic contact details of an EU Responsible Person. This field holds the email for the EU Responsible Person. This is a String field e.g., “email@eo.com” |
For further details on regulatory contact types, please refer to our help pages:
To add Product Safety Information
- To add or update Product Safety warnings for a given item, copy all the field names as shown below and include all the information for each record, even if you are not changing it
- To delete the Product Safety warning information for an item, leave all the fields blank
| Field Name | Description / Tool Tip |
|---|---|
| Product Safety Pictograms | This field is to provide product safety information. Sellers can provide 0 to 4 pictograms from a list of pictograms defined by eBay. Refer to this link for the values: https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/sell/static/metadata/feature-productsafety.html E.g., EBPSP101|EBPSP201. Each value is required to be separated by using "|" |
| Product Safety Statements | This field is to provide product safety information. Sellers can provide 0 to 8 statements from a list of statements defined by eBay. Refer to this link for a list of statements: https://developer.ebay.com/api-docs/sell/static/metadata/feature-productsafety.html The value can be as follows: e.g.,” EBPSS101|EBPSS104”. Each value is required to be separated by using "|" |
| Product Safety Component | This field is used by the seller to provide additional product safety information for the listing that is not covered by the product safety pictograms or statements. Component is optional. Max length: 120. This is a String field |
For further details on Product Safety information, please refer to our help page:
To upload Product Documents
- To add or update Product Documents for a given item, copy all the field names as shown below and include all the information for each record, even if you are not changing it
- To delete one Product Document, remove it from the pipe-delimited document ID string. To delete all Product Documents, leave the field blank
| Field Name | Description / Tool Tip |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Document Ids | This field is to provide any Regulatory, or other, Document Ids. There can be a maximum of 10 Document Ids added separated by a pipe character “|”. The types of documents that can be added are, for example: User or troubleshooting guides, Safety data sheets, Instructions for use or Installation instructions, Declaration or Certificate of conformity, Certificate of analysis and others |
For further details on Product Documents, please refer to our help page:
Getting Product Document IDs
If you are attaching a document to just one listing, go to Seller Hub > Listings > Active to create a new listing or revise an existing listing, and use the Product Document container under Item Disclosures (a.k.a. Product Information).
If you want to attach a document to multiple listings and are not using the Media API, first attach the document to one of your listings using the method above. Once your listing is published, navigate to the item page and click on the document link. The document will open in a new tab, and you can copy the document ID from the URL: https://docs.ebay.com/document/592*****-****-****-****-2818*****fbe.
This ID is unique to a seller and can be used to attach the same document to any of that seller's listings by pasting it into the Regulatory Document IDs field.
Step 8: Upload your updated file. Go to Seller Hub → then click Reports → then Uploads.
Step 9: Under Proceed to upload, click Upload template. Follow the prompts to find and upload your file. Please note that once your upload is complete, you can check the status. If it has failed, you may download the results, which will include warning or error information, or download your original source file.
Frequently Asked Questions*
If I’m a seller located in the US and selling domestically, does the GPSR apply to me?
No, the General Product Safety Regulation only applies to products sold in the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland (NI).
What type of product safety information do I need to include?
You’ll have to display any applicable instructions, warnings for safe use and disposal, and safety information for the product you’re selling. This information must be presented in the local language of the country where your item is being sold. You can include an image (a pictogram, a symbol, or a label), a statement (safety warnings or chemical hazard warnings), a product manual, or any other document that contains this information. The supported file formats are .pdf, .jpg, and .png.
Where can I find the above information?
This information can be found on the product, on its packaging, or in any accompanying documents. You can also reach out to the product manufacturer if you don’t have this information.
What should I do if I don’t receive a response from the product manufacturer?
You can look up their contact information on the manufacturer's official website or a website authorized by the manufacturer. Alternatively, you can try reaching out to the product distributor.
Which categories are excluded from the GPSR?
The following products and categories are excluded from the General Product Safety Regulation:
- Medicinal products
- Food and feed products
- Living animals and plants
- Genetically modified organisms and microorganisms
- Animal by-products
- Plant protection products, also referred to as pesticides
- Plant and animal products related to their reproduction
- Antiques
- Certain types of aircraft
- Travel equipment operated by a service provider to transport consumers
- Products that need to be repaired, reconditioned, or recycled prior to being used and are clearly marked as such
To view the entire list, download our Excluded Categories on eBay document. You can also learn more by checking Article 2 of the GPSR.
Does the GPSR apply to collectibles, including antiques and works of art?
The regulation excludes antiques, which, for purposes of this law, includes collectors’ items and works of art since they cannot meet the necessary safety requirements. Specifically, antiques are defined to include items of extraordinary age, works of art (created solely for artistic purposes), and collectors’ items (of sufficient rarity and historical or scientific interest justifying their collection and preservation). To determine if an item qualifies as an antique, please refer to Annex IX of the VAT Directive, which the GPSR specifically says can be taken into account.
For other categories, you can specify the Year of Manufacture or Year of Publication. Additionally, you can use model, product, serial, or batch numbers, as well as EAN or UPC codes to identify specific products or batches. Include these details, along with brand or manufacturer details in the item specifics area of your listing. You can also provide any additional information you have to help your buyers make an informed decision.
What does the Responsible Person need to do?
The EU or NI-based Responsible Person is in charge of specific tasks related to compliance and product safety, including:
- Checking that the EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and other technical documentations are in order, and providing them to the market surveillance authorities to demonstrate the conformity of the product
- Informing the market surveillance authorities about dangerous products and accidents through the EU Safety Business Gateway
- Cooperating with the market surveillance authorities and ensuring the necessary actions are taken to rectify any non-compliance issues
- Providing documented evidence of the checks that were performed, if requested by the authorities
Who can be the Responsible Person?
The Responsible Person can be one of the following and must be located in the EU or NI:
- The manufacturer
- An importer, if the manufacturer is not established in the EU or Northern Ireland
- An authorized representative of the manufacturer
- A fulfillment service provider if the manufacturer, importer, and authorized representative aren’t based in the EU or NI
If the manufacturer isn’t in the EU or Northern Ireland, how can I identify the Responsible Person?
If you’re a seller, you can contact the manufacturer or your upstream supplier to obtain the name and contact details of the EU or NI-based Responsible Person.
If you’re a manufacturer or a brand owner that’s based outside the EU or NI and have a subsidiary in the EU or NI, or already have an EU or NI importer, it may be possible to appoint them as the Responsible Person for your products. You can also check with the testing laboratory or the certification company that you use, as they may assist you with assigning a Responsible Person.
Can eBay help me find a Responsible Person?
eBay’s partnered with the following third-parties providers who offer GPSR compliance services for sellers, including the appointment of an EU-based Responsible Person:
- Webinterpret
- Cert-Rep
- Obelis
- Eucerep at ebay_support@eucerep.com
Please note that this referral is intended to assist you in finding someone who may be able to help you comply with EU product safety laws. It’s important for you to confirm that these services are right for you. Additionally, eBay is independent from these providers and won’t be responsible for the quality of their work.
What if the manufacturer of my product no longer exists or has gone out of business?
There’s no specific GPSR exemption for situations where the product’s manufacturer no longer exists. However, Article 51 of the GPSR states that EU nations shouldn't “impede” the sale of any product that was first supplied for distribution, consumption, or use on the EU market before December 13, 2024, provided that product is covered by and complies with the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EG). Like many new laws, the GPSR is subject to varying interpretations. To our understanding, Article 51 can mean that you don’t need to add the additional information required by the GPSR to listings for consumer products sold in the EU or Northern Ireland before December 13, 2024, and that are covered by and fully comply with the General Product Safety Directive.
For example, if you're selling an item that complies with the Directive and was placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market before December 13, 2024, and the manufacturer is out of business, you won’t need to provide GPSR-related information in the listing (for example, manufacturer information).
If you're unsure whether your products were placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market prior to this date, you could consider reviewing the Blue Guide on EU Product Rules. Maintaining clear and accurate records of when your products were first put on the EU / Northern Ireland market will help you determine which items are subject to the new requirements.
Even if the GPSR doesn’t apply, you may still have informational obligations under other regulations. To be on the safe side, you can add GPSR-related information to any listing if you believe it’s necessary, including listings published before December 13, 2024.
What if I sell second-hand items and don’t have information about the product manufacturer?
In general, used items are in scope of the GPSR. However, Article 51 of the GPSR states that EU nations shouldn’t “impede” the sale of any product that was first supplied for distribution, consumption, or use on the EU market before December 13, 2024, provided that product is covered by and complies with the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EG). As with many new laws, there are differing interpretations of the GPSR. To our understanding, Article 51 can mean that you don’t need, for example, to add the additional information required by the GPSR to listings for consumer products that were placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market before December 13, 2024, and that are covered by and fully comply with the General Product Safety Directive.
For example, if you’re selling a used item that complies with the directive and was placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market before December 13, 2024, you won’t need to provide GPSR-related information in the listing (for example, manufacturer information).
If you're unsure whether your products were placed on the EU or Northern Ireland market prior to this date, you could consider reviewing the Blue Guide on EU Product Rules. Maintaining clear and accurate records of when your products were first put on the EU or Northern Ireland market will help you determine which items are subject to the new requirements.
Even if the GPSR doesn’t apply, you may still have informational obligations under other regulations. To be on the safe side, you can add GPSR-related information to any listing if you believe it’s necessary, including listings published before December 13, 2024.
What if I don’t disable direct shipping to the EU and Northern Ireland, and don’t update my listings to comply with the GPSR?
If you don’t comply with the GPSR, your listings may not be visible to buyers in the EU and Northern Ireland.