Commercial Information Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : EIC 230/2

25 May 2023

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 355/2023

European Union (EU)* : General Product Safety Regulation

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety which amends Regulation (EU) No. 1025/2012 and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 as well as repeal Directive 2001/95/EC and Council Directive 87/357/EEC. The Regulation was published on 23 May 2023 and is available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32023R0988.

2.The Regulation lays down essential rules on the safety of consumer products placed or made available on the market. It has also taken into account developments related to new technologies and online selling.

3.Under the regulation, economic operators shall place or make available on the market only safe products, including products sold both offline and online, and comply with their respective obligations. For instance, if a product has proven to be unsafe, economic operators must immediately adopt corrective measures and inform market surveillance authorities and consumers. Economic operators should also have a responsible person who will regularly check the compliance of products and ensure availability of technical documentation, instructions and safety information. The Regulation will enter into force on 12 June 2023 and shall apply from 13 December 2024.

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Tracy MAK)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU comprises of 27 member countries, namely, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.