Dear Publisher,
As you may know, the European Union (EU) has a regulation coming into effect on December 13, 2024, entitled the General Product Safety Regulation, or GPSR. This applies to all products that are imported or made available within the EU.
The regulation pertains to books and other products sold by Ingram Content Group into the EU. As the publisher, you are required to take action. Not taking action may impact the availability of your products sold by Ingram in this market.
Full details are below, including details about ONIX support. To simplify the process of providing required contact details, we have established an online form where you can submit your information to Ingram. We will disseminate this information to the market on your behalf.
Please complete the online form by December 13, 2024, to ensure continuity of the sale of your products into the EU. If you have any questions, please contact your client manager or buyer.
Sincerely,
Your Ingram Team
GPSR Requirements from Suppliers (including Publishers):
At minimum, each supplier must provide Ingram the following information via Jotform, and/or on the product as applicable:
- Supplier name, contact information, and address, including their trade name and/ or brand.
- Product manufacturer name, contact information, and address, including their trade name and/ or brand.
- Year of manufacture, publication, impression number, batch number, or serial number for easy identification and differentiation of production runs.
- Information to clearly identify the products, including, without limiting, digital images of the products, product descriptions, and product identifiers (such as serial numbers, ISBNs, etc. mentioned above).
- Safety warning labels. Where required by the GPSR, products must have clear warning labels or markings that are easy for consumers to understand. This information must also be clearly visible on the product packaging.
- An EU conformity statement in the form provided by Ingram confirming the safety of the product under the GPSR regulations.
- Name and contact information for your EU authorized representative - both physical address and electronic mail address.
- Any additional information required by the GSPR applicable to the product or as requested by Ingram.
General FAQ
Will my titles be delisted if I do not provide the necessary GPSR information?
This decision will be up to individual retailers as to whether they will carry products based on vendor compliance with GPSR. In future, Ingram may choose not to export products missing GPSR information into the EU.
What if I do not have an EU-based contact for my products?
There are several third-party companies within the EU who provide these services. Please seek legal guidance for additional information.
Do resellers accept all GPSR fields in ONIX?
There are several third-party companies within the EU who provide these services. Please seek legal guidance for additional information.
Where can I learn more about GPSR and ONIX?
ONIX 3.1.2 was just released in late October. You can also learn more from a recent BISG webinar.
More Information About GPSR
The General Product Safety Regulation ("GPSR") will apply to all products that are (i) imported to, or (ii) made available within, the European Union ("EU") market as of December 13, 2024. The GPSR establishes requirements related to a product's design, manufacture, and placement to help ensure products do not pose a risk to consumers. Product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and wholesalers will all be affected by this new regulation. As it pertains to books and other products sold by Ingram Content Group ("Ingram") into the EU, the GPSR will apply to Ingram, as well as the suppliers (including publishers) and manufacturers (including printers) of such books and other products. As the distributor of these products, Ingram will need to rely on its suppliers (including publishers) to meet the compliance requirements.
Applicability
The GPSR applies to:
- Suppliers and Manufacturers: Both EU-based and non-EU-based suppliers and manufacturers placing products directly on the EU market or making products available to be placed on the EU market.
- Importers and Distributors: Must verify that products comply with the GPSR before distributing them.
- Online Marketplaces: Responsible for ensuring that products sold on their platform meet safety standards.
Compliance Requirements
To comply with the GPSR, at minimum, those to whom the GPSR is applicable must:
- Conduct Risk Assessments: Identify and mitigate risks associated with their products.
- Technical Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation proving product safety in compliance with the GPSR.
- Clear Labeling: Provide safety information and warnings in the languages of the EU Member States where the products are sold.
- Traceability: Maintain records to trace the origin of the products and ensure they can be recalled if necessary.
- Responsible Person: Designate a responsible person within the EU to ensure compliance and act as a contact point for product safety issues.
You can review the full GPSR document here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R0988
To ensure compliance with the GPSR, you should seek independent legal guidance.