General product safety regulation [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy Podcast]

Written by Nikolina Šajn (1st edition).

On 30 June 2021, the Commission adopted a proposal for a general product safety regulation, which would replace the current General Product Safety Directive, as part of the regulatory fitness-check programme (REFIT). The proposal seeks to address the challenges of product safety of emerging technologies, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) and connected devices, and to establish clear obligations for online marketplaces, which consumers increasingly use for their online purchases. The proposal would create a single set of market surveillance rules for both harmonised and non-harmonised products, including by aligning the provisions with the Market Surveillance Regulation, and would improve the effectiveness of product recalls. For non-harmonised products where neither manufacturers nor distributors are established in the European Union, it would introduce a requirement for a person to be responsible for the product in the Union. The proposal would clarify consumer remedies and harmonise maximum penalties for infringements. In the European Parliament, the file has been provisionally referred to the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

Versions

General product safety regulation (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on general product safety, amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Directive 87/357/EEC and Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Committee responsible:	Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)	COM(2021) 346 30.6.2021
Rapporteur:	Dita Charanzová (Renew, Czechia)	2021/0170 (COD)
Shadow rapporteurs:	Marion Walsmann (EPP, Germany) Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D, Germany) Kim Van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, The Netherlands) Anne-Sophie Pelletier (The Left, France)	Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)