General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland
Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988.
Applies to Northern Ireland
Documents
Details
From 13 December 2024, there were changes to the general product safety rules in Northern Ireland (NI). Many UK businesses that sell goods in NI were already going further than the new requirements and are therefore likely to have sufficient arrangements in place to remain compliant.
The factsheet above provides:
- a summary of the new general product safety rules
- a quick way to check the obligations of your business
- case studies of how businesses may need to respond
It is supported by the detailed guidance on the changes.
Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety superseded the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 in NI on 13 December 2024.
This guidance is for businesses placing products on the market in NI. It will assist your understanding of the regulations and includes obligations for manufacturers and their authorised representatives, importers, distributors, fulfilment service providers and the providers of online marketplaces.
The regulations require all consumer products within scope to be safe and applies whether they are new, used, repaired or reconditioned. Assessment of whether a product is safe includes considering aspects of it such as its characteristics, design, technical features, composition, packaging, instructions for assembly and installation, use and maintenance.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 continue to apply in Great Britain.
Read guidance on the general product safety regulations: Great Britain
Updates to this page
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Factsheet extended to include a quick way to check the obligations of your business and four case studies, and detailed guidance updated to clarify the scope of the regulations and the exemptions.
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First published.