FAQ – GPSR

“Physical Labelling Requirement:
The manufacturer (publisher) is required to visibly display the following information on the book, either by print or sticker:

Name (legal entity)
Postal address
Email address (permanent accessibility)

If the manufacturer is not established within the Union, the following additional information is required:

Name (legal entity) of the importer
Postal address of the importer
Email address (permanent accessibility) of the importer”

“The EUDR (Deforestation Regulation) and the GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) are two distinct legal frameworks with different requirements:

EUDR (Deforestation Regulation):
The aim of this regulation is to control the import and trade of products contributing to deforestation or forest degradation. Companies must ensure their supply chains are deforestation-free and provide detailed proof of the origin of raw materials.

GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation):
This regulation focuses on the safety of products introduced to the market. Manufacturers and distributors are required to ensure that their products do not pose risks to the health or safety of consumers, with an emphasis on technical and legal safety standards.

The two regulations differ in both objectives and requirements: while the EUDR targets environmental and sustainability concerns, the GPSR focuses on consumer safety.”

Products that were placed on the market or made available before December 13, 2024, are subject to the regulations in effect until that date (e.g., the General Product Safety Directive – GPSD). However, products that are placed on the market or made available for the first time after December 13, 2024, must comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).

We recommend contacting the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V.) for more detailed information. The association has developed a GPSR guideline for implementation.

We assume that the previously provided information regarding the product form, and for non-books the additional presence of a description text, is sufficient. If you submit your product data to us via the VLB, this information will be adequate. For products subject to the Toy Directive, the Battery Directive, or the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, the respective known information must be reported in ONIX (e.g., composite ).

Books fall under Harmonized System Code-Code 4901, which covers products such as printed matter that do not pose direct hazards or risks to the physical safety of consumers. Unlike products such as chemicals, machinery, or electronics, books do not present any physical danger. Therefore, warning labels for books (excluding puzzle books, sound books, or similar items) are not required.

Libri will not delist the items. However, it is likely that all online shops (distance selling operators) will remove items without images starting from December 13, 2024.

Yes, the ISBN can be used as a serial number.

Each individual copy must comply with the legal requirements. Therefore, the required information must be printed on every single copy.

Starting approximately mid-March 2025, the Verzeichnis Lieferbarer Bücher (VLB) will export your GPSR contact details to Libri. If we have agreed with you that we will use the VLB data for listing your items, we will adopt the information from the VLB from that point onward.