Dear Smartstore store operators, imagine if every product in your online store could provide your customers with precise information about its origin, properties and possible risks. What sounds like an ambitious vision will soon become reality in online retail - thanks to the new EU Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). Smartstore is at your side during this exciting transformation!
The GPSR: a milestone for e-commerce
The GPSR will come into force on December 13, 2024 and promises to make online retail safer and more transparent. As the successor to the previous Product Safety Directive, it brings with it some significant innovations. The aim to provide consumers with more information and therefore more security when shopping online.
Here is an initial overview:
Scope of the GPSR
The GPSR applies to almost all consumer products, including used and repaired goods. However, it does not apply to
- food and medicines that are already heavily regulated elsewhere
- live plants and animals
- antiques
- some other special categories such as products still to be refurbished, airplanes and some more
Now let's move on to what you need to implement as a store operator.
New requirements for online retailers
As a Smartstore user and online retailer, you have some new obligations:
- Extended product information: Detailed manufacturer, product and safety information is now mandatory for all GPSR products. Manufacturer information: Name, registered trade name/trade mark, postal address and e-mail address or web link for contacting or the so-called EU economic operator for manufacturers outside the EU. Further product image and other product identifiers, warnings and safety information if applicable.
- Risk analysis: Are you a "manufacturer"? For private labels or products that have already been significantly modified, you must take preventive action and prepare internal technical documentation. There are no exceptions for trivial products. The documentation must be archived for 10 years.
- Rapid communication: In the event of problems with product defects, swift action is required. You are subject to a new reporting obligation; as a retailer, you must contact the manufacturer or the person responsible for imports. If you are the importer yourself, you have an extended reporting obligation to a Safety Gate portal.
- Free product recalls: In the event of a product recall due to safety defects, manufacturers or importers must offer the customer at least two free solution options, analogous to the familiar warranty. In contrast to the warranty, there is no limitation or preclusion period for product safety recalls. Those affected must therefore make provisions for this and/or insure the risk.
- Marketplace operators: If you operate a marketplace for other retailers with Smartstore, you will be subject to further special features and obligations. It is beyond the scope of this overview to describe these here. Seek appropriate advice.
Sounds like a challenge? Don't worry, Smartstore will help you!
How Smartstore supports you: Your toolkit for GPSR implementation from version 6 onwards
This is how we approach the GPSR topic. With Smartstore 6, there is an additional feature available on request in the form of the "General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)" plugin, which can be installed with a single click. Similar to the GDPR plugin that we launched in 2018 with Smartstore 3.2.2.
-
Central manufacturer management:
Imagine a central information hub in which you enter GPSR manufacturer data once and it then appears automatically for all relevant products. This is exactly what we offer you. No more time-consuming multiple entries in many cases!Manufacturer details and the person responsible are maintained by the manufacturer and automatically displayed with the product. Either as paragraphs below the long description or in additional tabs.
The store operator can specify whether one, two or three tabs are to be inserted.
-
Flexible product information:
Whether global standard information or product-specific features - our system adapts to your needs.For example, you can store general care instructions for your entire range of wooden products and add individual information for special pieces.
With additional features such as the File Manager (not part of the Community Edition), you can add PDF data sheets directly to the product detail pages as a download link, making your work even easier.
-
Dynamic product groups:
Our Rule Builder is enhanced with the GPSR feature, and acts as a wizard through which you can mass categorize similar products and enrich them with the required GPSR information.Warnings and safety instructions can be defined and assigned directly for the product or dynamically using the rule builder.
Define the rules once and the system takes care of the rest - such as automatic recycling instructions for all plastic products.
-
Multilingual information:
With our multilingual system, you can ensure that every customer receives GPSR safety information in their own language.From " Vorsicht, zerbrechlich! " to "Attention, fragile!" - Your store speaks your customers' language. All this information is maintained in Smartstore as localizable (language-dependent), HTML-enabled long texts.
We also recommend: with the new AI features from Smartstore 6 (not part of the Community Edition), you can easily translate, add to, expand and shorten the texts.
Your GPSR timetable with Smartstore 6
- From now on: Familiarize yourself with the GPSR requirements immediately.
- Product information: Gather all relevant product information and prepare it for input.
- End of November: Update your Smartstore to version 6 with the new GPSR functions.
- First week of December: Carry out a comprehensive GPSR compliance check of your store.
- From December 13, 2024: Ensure that all your products are presented in a GPSR-compliant manner
How to get the new GPSR feature
Good news for all Smartstore Flat users: The new GPSR feature will be integrated as a plugin "General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)" in the upcoming version 6 as an optional, commercial feature. The GPSR feature is NOT part of the free Community Edition. Every Smartstore user can purchase it or even receive it free of charge under certain conditions!
Here is the most important information for you:
-
GPSR will be part of the Premium Flat Edition: The GPSR plugin will be an integral part of the Smartstore Premium Flat Edition 6. With this update, we offer you a total of 16 powerful plugins, including the GPSR and the innovative AI tools ChatGPT and Pixlr, which were newly introduced in version 6.
-
Free for Premium Flat customers: If you are already using the Smartstore Premium Edition via our flat rental model, you will automatically receive the GPSR feature at no additional cost with the update to version 6.
-
Single license available: For users of the Open Source Community Edition or other versions, we also offer the GPSR plugin as a single license, just like any Smartstore plugin. This allows you to make your store GPSR-compliant. The GPSR plugin can only be used from version 6. If you are using an older version of Smartstore, you must update it to the current version.
-
Flexibility for all store operators: Whether Premium customer or Community Edition user - we ensure that every store operator has the opportunity to implement the new GPSR requirements optimally and affordably with Smartstore.
Conclusion
The GPSR presents us all with new challenges, but also offers the opportunity to further strengthen the trust of your customers through good implementation and to position yourself as a responsible retailer. With the new GPSR feature in Smartstore 6, we provide you with the tools to master this challenge efficiently.
Stay informed, prepare now and take advantage of the opportunities Smartstore offers you. Together we will create a more secure and trustworthy e-commerce!
For more information on this hot topic, please contact us via our contact form, by e-mail or by phone.
Contact:
E-mail: info@smartstore.com
Phone: +49 231 53350
SmartStore AG
Kaiserstraße 63-65
44135 Dortmund
Note: This article is for information purposes and is intended to provide you with an initial overview. However, it does not replace legal advice. For specific legal questions, we recommend that you consult a qualified legal advisor.