General product safety – Directive 2001/95/EC – GPS

Directive No. 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety, called GPS Directive, applies to all the products introduced on the market which are not subject to specific provisions contained in Community rules governing the safety of the products concerned.   

Directive defines safe product as “any product which, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use including duration and, where applicable, putting into service, installation and maintenance requirements, does not present any risk or only the minimum risks compatible with the product’s use, considered to be acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for the safety and health of persons, taking into account the following points in particular:

  • the characteristics of the product, including its composition, packaging, instructions for assembly and, where applicable, for installation and maintenance;
  • the effect on other products, where it is reasonably foreseeable that it will be used with other products;
  • the presentation of the product, the labelling, any warnings and instructions for its use and disposal and any other indication or information regarding the product;
  • the categories of consumers at risk when using the product, in particular children and the elderly.” 

The Directive shall not apply to second-hand products supplied as antiques or as products to be repaired or reconditioned prior to being used, provided that the supplier clearly informs the person to whom he supplies the product of that effect.

Where products are subject to specific safety requirements imposed by Community legislation, e.g. New Approach Directives, this Directive shall apply only to the aspects and risks or categories of risks not covered by those requirements.

Producers are obliged to place only safe products on the market and product distributors shall not supply products which they know or should have presumed do not comply with applicable safety requirements. Where producers and distributors know that a product that they have placed on the market is not safe for the consumer, they shall immediately inform the surveillance authorities thereon. Also every consumer or any other person may submit information on an unsafe product. 

President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection with the help of Trade Inspection supervises the general product safety in Poland. The market surveillance body maintains the register of unsafe products. The GPS Directive establishes also the Community Rapid Information System (RAPEX), which is a platform of communication  among EU member states and European Commission on consumer products that pose risk for health and safety of consumers.   

An independent certification carried out by an accredited certification body may facilitate verification of conformity with applicable product safety criteria.

If you have any doubts as regards the Directive application or wish to get further information on our services, we invite you to contact us.

We ensure reliable and competitive offer as well as efficient and professional service.

If you are interested in verification of your products conformity with the requirements of this Directive, please complete on-line application form.

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Products and Persons Certification Bureau
tel: 58 75 11 273
email: cw@prs.pl

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