IAAF members that trade outside of the UK now have to comply with the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) 2024. This is a European law that regulates the safety of consumer products. It came into effect on December 13, 2024.

The GPSR 2024 aims to: Ensure consumer health and safety, Make the internal market function efficiently, Establish a structured approach to product recalls, and Require mandatory reporting of safety issues.

The GPSR 2024 applies to:

• All consumer products in the EU
• Businesses that want to sell into the EU and Northern Ireland
• UK businesses that sell their goods into the EU Single Market

The GPSR 2024 includes requirements for:

• Responsible Person: Each product must have a designated Responsible Person (RP) who handles safety and compliance issues
• Product design and production: Products must meet safety standards
• Risk assessment: Thorough risk assessments must be conducted
• Documentation: Technical documentation and a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) must be maintained
• Product testing: Products must be tested to verify their safety
• Mandatory reporting: Manufacturers, importers, and distributors must report safety issues to the relevant authorities without delay

A more detailed members’ version and guidance on the regulation will be distributed shortly.