In autumn 2022, the European institutions will negotiate the final text for a new General Product Safety Regulation. Among the strong points in the Commission’s proposal were more modern market surveillance rules, broader criteria for risk assessment, improved traceability along the supply chain, giving consumers new rights in case of product recalls, and initiatives to improve international cooperation.

The amendments proposed by the co-legislators to the Commission’s proposal so far can bring several improvements from a consumer perspective, for example better provisions on remedies in case of product recalls.

However, there are also aspects of concern, notably the fact that loopholes on regulating online marketplaces will continue to exist, which will significantly lower the level of protection.

As we enter the final legislative stage, trilogue negotiations, BEUC calls on legislators to go the extra mile to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly high level of protection when shopping for products. To this end, we make a number of recommendations.

Most importantly we recommend keeping the precautionary principle in the scope of the regulation, getting obligations of economic operators including online marketplaces right, and ensuring a strong enforcement system as well as a short transition time to the new Regulation.