Help! GPSR is driving me mad!

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Topic summary

A UK-based seller of bicycle bearings is seeking clarity on EU GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) requirements before expanding sales to the EU market. Currently restricted to Scotland, England, and Wales, they’re receiving EU customer inquiries but are uncertain about compliance obligations.

Key situation details:

  • Products are sourced from three manufacturers who already have EU representatives
  • All products were available in the EU before December 2024
  • Suppliers claim only their details are needed, but haven’t provided safety documentation

Guidance provided:

  • As a reseller (not rebranding/modifying products), likely no separate EU rep is needed
  • Must ensure manufacturer’s EU rep details are clearly visible on packaging/products
  • Need access to safety documentation (Declaration of Conformity, etc.) for potential authority requests
  • Critical: Don’t market products under own brand, or risk being classified as manufacturer
  • Should maintain records and push suppliers hard for documentation, as enforcement is tightening in 2025

The discussion remains open regarding obtaining the necessary documentation from suppliers.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi everyone,

I started my website a couple of months ago and immediately locked it to Scotland, England & Wales because I knew about GPSR but didn’t feel prepared enough to deal with it.

I’m now getting a number of queries from the EU and I hate turning away business.

Effectively, I sell bicycle bearings that I receive from three manufacturers. They all have a GPSR rep and the products I sell have been available in the EU prior to Dec 2024.

Do I have to have my own EU rep given this info? Everything I’m reading online is conflicting.

In preparation for possibly needing one, I’ve reached out to suppliers for safety docs etc and they’ve all said that I just need their details. Documents have not been forthcoming.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated because I need this business to work and I think I can only really do it if I expand to the EU.

Thank you

2

If you’re reselling their products without rebranding or modifying them, you likely do not need your own EU representative, but you must ensure
The manufacturer’s EU rep details are clearly visible (on packaging or product),have access to safety documentation (Declaration of Conformity, etc.) if requested by EU authorities.
You don’t market the product as your own brand, or else you may be considered the manufacturer.
As a distributor under GPSR rules, so if your suppliers are compliant and you’re transparent, you’re covered—but push hard for those documents and keep records, as enforcement is tightening in 2025.