Introduction
As you may have heard, the new Product Safety Act (ProdSG) will come into effect on July 1, 2025. The Product Safety Act is the national implementation of the European General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) and is designed to improve safety standards for products sold in Germany. You are probably wondering what the Product Safety Act means for your business. Don't worry, we have compiled all the essential information for you on this page.
What is the goal of the Product Safety Regulation?
The goal of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is to ensure a high level of safety for all products sold within the European Union. This law ensures that all products made available to consumers meet strict safety requirements to minimize health and safety risks.
On the website of the European Commission, you can find further information on product safety and the Product Safety Regulation.
Am I affected by the Product Safety Regulation?
Whether you are an importer, distributor, or retailer, the GPSR requires all those involved in the supply chain to take on certain responsibilities. Depending on your role in the supply chain, the specific requirements may vary.
- Manufacturers: You are responsible for ensuring that your products are safe and comply with legal requirements. This means you must carefully inspect your products, provide warnings, and adhere to all safety standards. It is also important that you keep thorough documentation about your products to react quickly if a product is deemed unsafe.
- Importers: If you import products into the EU, you are responsible for ensuring that they meet high EU safety standards. It is your task to verify that the products you import are safe and certified before being distributed to European consumers.
- Retailers: It is your responsibility to ensure that all products you sell meet safety requirements. Do not sell products that you know may be potentially dangerous. Stay informed about any news regarding products and relay important safety warnings to your customers.
Therefore, it is crucial that you, as a website operator or entrepreneur, take action and carefully examine which regulations apply to your specific situation. These checks are your responsibility. Please take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the Product Safety Regulation.
A good starting point could be eRecht24, which offers comprehensive information and a quick self-assessment test on their website. With this information and the self-test, you can initially check if you are affected by the regulation.
Which products are affected by the Product Safety Regulation?
Regardless of where the products are manufactured, as soon as they are sold online and delivered to the EU, they must meet certain safety standards. The Product Safety Regulation is quite comprehensive and affects almost all types of products you may offer. So check if the products you offer fall into one of these categories to determine if special regulations or requirements of the Product Safety Regulation apply to them.
Which products are affected?
- Consumer goods: This includes everyday items such as electronic devices, toys, textiles, household goods, tools, cosmetics, and furniture.
- Technical devices: From large machinery to everyday electronic devices.
- Leisure products: Anything related to sports and recreational activities, such as sports equipment and devices.
- Children's products: All items specifically for children, including toys, children's clothing, and care products.
- Construction products: Construction products must also be safe, but often have additional specific rules.
Are there exceptions?
- Food, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals are not covered by the Product Safety Regulation, as different safety regulations apply to them.
- Used products that have not been significantly altered may also be exempt from the requirements. However, these products should still be safe and pose no known risks to consumers.
- Reworked products that have been repaired or refurbished to return to a functional state may also be exempt. However, if significant changes are made during the reworking process, the products may need to comply with the requirements again.
Please note that the Jimdo Community Guidelines prohibit the sale of certain products. Please check independently if you are affected by this.
What requirements of the Product Safety Regulation must I consider?
- Ensuring product safety on your Jimdo website: It is crucial for your online business that all products you offer on your Jimdo website comply with the latest EU safety standards. This means: Each individual product must be carefully checked to ensure it is safe for use. These measures protect not only you but also your customers.
- Conducting risk assessments: Regular safety checks are essential, especially when you introduce new products to your range or update existing products. Take the time to identify potential risks and take measures to minimize them. Your customers will appreciate the extra care.
- Clear product information: It is important that you present all relevant safety information and warnings clearly and understandably on your website. This includes not only risk warnings but also clear instructions for the safe use of your products. This helps your customers make informed purchasing decisions and strengthens their trust in your offerings.
- Documentation and traceability: Keep documentation of your products and their safety checks ready. This documentation is crucial for quickly and effectively responding to recalls if necessary. A solid documentation practice shows that you are a responsible seller.
- Monitoring legal changes: Legal requirements may change. Stay informed about new regulations and adjust your processes accordingly to ensure that your products and your online shop meet the latest safety requirements.
How can I implement the requirements of the GPSR on my Jimdo website?
Product descriptions
It is good practice to separate safety-relevant information from general product descriptions. This structuring helps your customers and prospects quickly recognize and understand important safety notices. By presenting these details directly and clearly, without users having to search for additional documents or external links, you also improve the usability of your website.
Make sure to describe your products in detail, explaining what the product can do and what specific features it has. This helps your customers fully understand the functionality of the product.
For products where ingredients or materials are particularly important, such as in food, cosmetics, or textiles, you should make these details precise and clear.
Communicate openly if the product is not suitable for certain groups of people or age groups, or if there are specific precautions for use. Consider whether it makes sense to include clear instructions for the safe use of the product in the description.
Inform your customers about possible risks associated with the use of the product and how they can minimize these risks. Integrate all relevant warnings and safety information directly into the product page to ensure immediate visibility.
Include all relevant certifications or markings, such as the CE marking, clearly visible in the product description. This not only fosters trust in the quality and safety of your product but also facilitates the purchasing decision process for your customers.
You can find information on how to create and edit your products in our help:
- Creator: How do I create store items?
- Dolphin: How do I edit products in the Jimdo online shop and How do I add products to my Jimdo shop
Product images
Ensure that your product images are clear, well-lit, and detailed, so that all important features of the product are clearly visible. Blurry or poorly lit images can obscure essential safety features that your customers should be aware of.
If you want to show the product in use, it is important that the images depict the product as it should be used safely and according to the instructions. This helps avoid misunderstandings among customers and demonstrates how the product is used correctly. Such images can enhance trust in the safety and proper application of your product.
Ensure that no unsafe or potentially dangerous situations are depicted in the product images. For example, toys should not be shown in contexts that could be dangerous for children, such as near stairs or on high furniture. Such representations could not only be misleading but also increase the risk of accidents.
If there are specific safety instructions, such as the need for protective equipment, show these directly in the images. A helmet depicted next to a bicycle can be a simple yet effective signal for the required safety measures and inform customers about what they need to use the product safely.
Communication
Provide your customers with a contact option on your website where they can ask you questions about safety or report issues directly with the products you sell. For this, you can use our new Smart Forms feature. With this feature, you can create not only a user-friendly and easily accessible contact form but also specific forms for safety questions or product reports: Smart Forms on Jimdo.
How do I reach Jimdo with questions about implementing the Product Safety Act?
If you have specific requirements or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our support team. Our team is happy to assist you and advise you on your concerns.