Business owners from the UK wishing to trade or sell goods in Northern Ireland or the EU, under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) have several obligations to meet:
Responsible Person: Businesses must appoint a Responsible Person (RP) in Northern Ireland or the EU. When choosing Infereg as your responsible person we will be responsible for ensuring your product compliance with safety regulations, maintaining technical documentation, and handling safety issues or recalls. This is crucial because Northern Ireland remains aligned with EU regulations for goods under the Windsor Framework.
Labelling and Documentation:
Product Information – products must include clear identification details like type, batch, or serial numbers, along with the manufacturer’s or RP’s name, registered trade name, postal address and email.
Safety Information – products need to be accompanied by safety warnings, instructions and compliance information in a language easily understood by consumers in Northern Ireland, which is English.
Traceability: there should be mechanisms in place for traceability to allow for effective product recalls if necessary. This involves keeping records of where products come from and where they go.
Safety Assessments: Businesses must conduct safety assessments to ensure products are safe for their intended use, considering foreseeable misuse or updates if the product involves software or connectivity.
Compliance with EU Standards: Since Northern Ireland is subject to EU rules for goods, UK businesses need to ensure their products comply with the GPSR alongside UK regulations. This includes adhering to the latest safety standards and possibly having to update supply chain processes.
Online Sales: If products are sold through online marketplaces or websites, these platforms must also comply with GPSR by ensuring they have processes for product safety and can designate the representative contact points for compliance issues. However, the ultimate responsibility for product compliance falls on the seller or manufacturer.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are significant implications for non-compliance, including fines, bans on selling products in Northern Ireland, or loss of market access. Therefore, businesses need to be proactive in compliance to avoid such penalties.
Training and Awareness: It’s advisable for business owners to train their staff on GPSR requirements, ensuring they understand how to handle safety concerns and compliance issues.
These obligations are designed to enhance consumer safety by ensuring products entering the Northern Ireland market meet stringent safety criteria. Business owners should consider these aspects when preparing to trade or sell in Northern Ireland under the new GPSR framework. Infereg helps you meet GPSR regulatory requirements. Pick a plan to keep your business compliant and safe in the market.