General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)

The Product Safety Regulation (also known as the General Product Safety Regulation, or GPSR) establishes the legal framework to ensure the safety of products in the European market. It sets out general principles for how products should be designed, manufactured, and placed on the market to ensure that they pose no risks to consumers or third parties.

Starting from December 13, 2024, product safety and labeling requirements will become mandatory. Libri is preparing carefully for this new regulation and will inform all partner publishers in a timely manner. In short, from that date, Libri will be responsible for verifying that all products from partner publishers are properly labeled. Non-compliant products will be removed from the product range. For example:

  • Product Labeling: Manufacturers or publishers must ensure that their products are marked with a type, batch, or serial number for easy identification (e.g., ISBN). This label should be physically visible on the product itself (see the obligations for publishers from the Börsenverein).
  • Warning Labels and Product Information: If necessary, products must have clear warning labels or markings that are easy for consumers to see. These should also be physically visible on the product or its packaging.
  • Manufacturer or Publisher Information: The manufacturer or publisher must include their name, trade name, or brand, as well as their postal address and email address. If different, a central contact address must also be provided. This information should either be on the product itself, the packaging, or in an accompanying document.

As a distance selling operator, Libri acts as an intermediary between manufacturers, publishing houses, importers, and end consumers. Libri’s key role is to ensure that the products they distribute or offer on their platforms comply with safety requirements. This role involves facilitating the entry of products into the market and making them accessible to consumers. Libri is required to ensure that the product descriptions on its websites are complete, accurate, and easy to understand. Therefore, Libri expects its partners to provide all relevant information in digital form.

  • Required Information from Publishers and Manufacturers:
    • Manufacturer’s or Publisher’s Name: The full name of the manufacturer or publishing house.
    • Registered Trade Name or Trademark: The registered trade name or trademark of the manufacturer or publisher.
    • Postal Address and Email: The postal address and email address of the manufacturer or publisher.
  • Product Identification: In online sales, products must be clearly identifiable, which includes providing:
    Digital images of the product, product descriptions, identifiers (such as serial numbers, ISBNs, etc.)
  • If the Manufacturer or Publisher is not Based in the EU: If the manufacturer or publisher is based outside the EU, the following information must be provided for the responsible party (importer, authorized representative, or fulfillment service provider):
    • Name of the Responsible Person: The name of the entity of the importer, authorized representative, or fulfillment service provider.
    • Address of the Responsible Person: The postal address of the importer, authorized representative, or fulfillment service provider.
    • Email Address of the Responsible Person: The email contact of the importer, authorized representative, or fulfillment service provider.