GPSR Deadline 2026: What Non-EU Sellers Need to Know Right Now

GPSR Deadline 2026: What Non-EU Sellers Need to Know Right Now

The GPSR deadline of 13 December 2024 has passed. The General Product Safety Regulation (EU 2023/988) is now in full force — there is no grace period, no phased rollout for small sellers, and no exemption for marketplace sellers. If you sell physical products to EU customers and you have not yet complied, you are currently non-compliant, and enforcement is escalating throughout 2026.

This guide explains the complete GPSR timeline, what the 2026 enforcement landscape looks like, and what you need to do immediately to protect your EU sales.

Updated: July 2026.

The GPSR Deadline: What It Means

The GPSR deadline refers to December 13, 2024 — the date on which the General Product Safety Regulation became fully applicable across all EU member states. Before this date, sellers had an 18-month transition period (from July 2023) to prepare. After this date, all GPSR requirements became legally enforceable.

The key requirements that became mandatory on the GPSR deadline are:

• Every non-EU seller must appoint an EU Responsible Person before selling to EU customers
• Product labelling must include the Responsible Person's name and EU address
• A technical documentation file must be maintained for 10 years
• Safety information must be visible to consumers on product listings
• Serious product safety incidents must be reported to EU authorities

The GPSR Timeline: What Has Already Happened

Understanding where we are in the GPSR enforcement timeline helps explain why sellers are seeing increased compliance pressure in 2026.

Sellers who were not compliant by the December 2024 GPSR deadline have been operating in violation of EU law since then.

Why the GPSR Deadline Has Passed But Urgency Has Not

Many sellers assume that because the GPSR deadline has passed, the urgency has reduced. The opposite is true. Enforcement is escalating in 2026 for several reasons.

Platform enforcement is becoming more systematic. Amazon and Etsy initially focused on the most obvious violations — missing Responsible Person information. In 2026, they are expanding enforcement to include labelling requirements, safety information on listings, and documentation requests. Sellers who resolved the Responsible Person issue but have not updated their product labelling are now receiving new compliance notices.

EU customs authorities are more active. EU customs officials have been trained on GPSR requirements and are conducting more product checks at the border. Products without correct labelling — including the Responsible Person's name and address — are being held at customs.

National market surveillance is ramping up. EU member states are conducting more active market surveillance, particularly for product categories with high consumer risk. Products found to be non-compliant are being recalled and removed from the market.

The EU Safety Gate is being used more actively. The EU's product safety database is receiving more notifications, and non-compliant products are being flagged more frequently.

What GPSR Requires in 2026

The core requirements have not changed since the December 2024 GPSR deadline, but enforcement of each requirement is increasing:

1. EU Responsible Person (Mandatory for Non-EU Sellers)

Every non-EU seller must appoint an EU-based Responsible Person before selling physical products to EU customers. The Responsible Person must:

• Be legally established in an EU member state
• Sign a written mandate with the non-EU seller
• Hold the product's technical documentation
• Be reachable by EU market surveillance authorities
• Be named on the product labelling

2. Product Labelling

Products sold to EU customers must display:

• The Responsible Person's name and EU postal address
• The manufacturer's name and address
• Product-specific safety warnings in the language of the EU country where the product is sold

3. Technical Documentation

The Responsible Person must maintain a technical documentation file for each product for 10 years. This file must include the product description, safety assessment, manufacturing information, and test results.

4. Safety Information on Listings

Amazon, Etsy, and other platforms require safety warnings to be visible on product listings. This is separate from the physical product labelling requirement.

GPSR Deadline 2026: What Is Still Coming

While the main GPSR deadline has passed, several related compliance deadlines are approaching:

For sellers of electronics, the Battery Passport requirement is particularly relevant. For textile sellers, the Digital Product Passport will be mandatory from 2027.

The Real Cost of Missing the GPSR Deadline

Some sellers delay compliance because they have not yet received enforcement action. This is a risky calculation. The cost of non-compliance grows over time:

For most sellers, the monthly cost of a Responsible Person service is a fraction of their EU sales revenue. The risk of waiting — losing EU marketplace access — is significantly higher than the cost of compliance.

GPSR and Brexit: UK Sellers Face Two Deadlines

UK-based sellers face a particularly complex compliance situation. The UK left the EU in 2020, which means UK sellers are treated as non-EU sellers for GPSR purposes. Two compliance frameworks apply simultaneously:

• For EU customers: GPSR applies — you need an EU Responsible Person
• For UK customers: UK product safety law (UKPSR) applies — you need a UK Responsible Person

The GPSR deadline for UK sellers selling to EU customers was the same as for all other non-EU sellers: December 13, 2024. UK sellers who have not yet appointed an EU Responsible Person are non-compliant for their EU sales.

How to Comply After the GPSR Deadline

If you have not yet complied with GPSR, here is what to do immediately:

Step 1: Appoint an EU Responsible Person. This is the most urgent step. Choose a professional service provider that is legally registered in an EU member state and accepted by Amazon. AuraDPP provides EU Responsible Person services from Slovakia with same-day activation.

Step 2: Update your Amazon and Etsy listings. Submit the Responsible Person's details to Amazon Seller Central for each affected ASIN. For Etsy, add the Economic Operator information to your shop settings.

Step 3: Update your product labelling. Add the Responsible Person's name and EU address to your product packaging or insert. This is required for physical products — not just for online listings.

Step 4: Compile your technical documentation. Gather your product safety test reports, specifications, and Declaration of Conformity. Your Responsible Person will hold these documents.

The entire process can be completed within 2–5 business days with a professional service provider.

Frequently Asked Questions About the GPSR Deadline

Has the GPSR deadline already passed? Yes. The GPSR deadline was December 13, 2024. All GPSR requirements have been fully enforceable since that date. Sellers who are not yet compliant are currently in violation of EU law.

Is there a new GPSR deadline in 2026? There is no new GPSR deadline in 2026 — the regulation is already in force. However, enforcement is escalating throughout 2026, and related regulations (Battery Regulation, PPWR, Digital Product Passport) have their own upcoming deadlines.

Does the GPSR deadline apply to small sellers? Yes. There is no exemption for small sellers, micro-businesses, or marketplace sellers. The GPSR applies to all sellers of physical consumer products sold to EU customers, regardless of business size or sales volume.

What is the GPSR deadline for Amazon sellers? Amazon began enforcing GPSR requirements from December 13, 2024. Sellers without valid Responsible Person information have been receiving Account Health violations and listing deactivations since then. There is no separate Amazon deadline — Amazon enforces the EU legal deadline.

Does the GPSR deadline apply to digital products? No. The GPSR applies only to physical consumer products. Digital goods, software, and services are not covered.

What is the fine for missing the GPSR deadline? Under GPSR, EU member states can impose fines of up to 4% of annual turnover or €10 million (whichever is higher) for serious violations. Individual member states set their own fine levels within this framework. In addition to fines, authorities can order product recalls and prohibit further sales.

I missed the GPSR deadline — what should I do? Appoint an EU Responsible Person immediately and submit their details to your sales platforms. The sooner you comply, the lower your risk of enforcement action. Professional services can have you compliant within 24–48 hours. Use the free GPSR compliance checker to assess your current compliance status.

Summary

The GPSR deadline of December 13, 2024 has passed. Non-EU sellers who have not yet appointed an EU Responsible Person, updated their product labelling, and submitted compliance information to platforms are at increasing risk of listing deactivation, account suspension, and regulatory action in 2026.

The most urgent step is appointing a qualified EU Responsible Person and submitting their details to Amazon and other platforms. This can be done within 24–48 hours and resolves the most actively enforced compliance requirement.

Need to resolve your GPSR compliance quickly? AuraDPP provides EU Responsible Person services with same-week activation, based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Get started at auradpp.com/eu-ar-service. — Goran Matejic, LIMASE s.r.o.

Related articles:

• What is an EC Rep? The Complete Guide for Non-EU Sellers
• Amazon Error: GPSR Compliance Documentation Required — Fix It Now
• GPSR Compliance Checklist for Non-EU Sellers
• EU Authorised Representative Service — Pricing and Plans