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DEKRA Product Testing

The Product Safety Directive is crucial to ensuring the safety of products on the market.

General Product Safety Directive

EU directive for product safety

European rules regarding product safety are established in the General Product Safety Directive. This directive supplements sector-specific legislation applicable to particular product groups. Therefore, this directive is also seen as a safety net for products not covered by other EU legislation. Understanding the General Product Safety Guideline may seem complicated, so take a look at this page to learn about it's basics.

The General Product Safety Directive is crucial to ensuring product safety within the European market. If a product complies with the directive, it is considered a product that can be used safely. With the advent of new technologies, several adjustments have been made to the General Product Safety Directive. The updated version ensures that consumers are better protected against current challenges and that product safety is guaranteed. The revised version will be applicable from December 2024.
The Product Safety Directive does not apply to, among others, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, electrical appliances, and foodstuffs. These products are subject to specific product legislation.
Purpose of the General Product Safety Directive
The purpose of the Product Safety Directive is to ensure the safety of all products. It requires companies and manufacturers to sell safe products. If risks are discovered, they must take appropriate measures to reduce those risks. Additionally, the Product Safety Directive ensures proper enforcement of the rules. All of this contributes to the goal: products placed on the EU market must be safe.

What are your obligations under the General Product Safety Directive?

    Obligations for companies and manufacturers

    Companies and manufacturers bringing products to the market have several obligations they must fulfill. By meeting these requirements, consumer safety is ensured. Some obligations under the Product Safety Directive that companies and manufacturers must comply with include:
    • Only safe products may be placed on the market;
    • All risks associated with the product must be clearly communicated to the consumer;
    • Dangerous products on the market must be traceable so they can be removed.

    DEKRA & product safety

    With the large number of applicable standards, understanding the guidelines can sometimes be challenging. The experts at DEKRA are happy to assist you and provide expert knowledge. Additionally, DEKRA conducts inspections and audits as an independent entity to guarantee product safety. Feel free to contact one of our experts for all your questions regarding the Product Safety Directive.