Product safety act and the EU general product safety regulation – what they mean for you as a consumer

Produktsäkerhetslagen och EU:s produktsäkerhetsförordning – vad de innebär för dig som konsument - Engelska

The Product Safety Act and the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) require that products offered to consumers by businesses must be safe. To prevent dangerous goods and services from reaching you, companies are obliged to meet certain safety requirements. To prevent dangerous goods and services from reaching you, companies are obliged to meet certain safety requirements.

Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.

When do the Product Safety Act and the GPSR apply?

The rules are aimed at businesses and apply to all products offered to consumers, unless the product is covered by specific legislation. Some parts of the GPSR also apply to products that fall under a specific legislation.

The core requirement is that goods and services must be safe. A good or service is considered safe if, under normal use, it poses no risk—or only a minimal risk—to your health and safety.

When do the Product Safety Act and the GPSR not apply?

The Product Safety Act and the GPSR do not apply—or only apply in part—if a product is covered by specific legislation. They also do not apply to goods intended solely for professional use. Additionally, damage to property and environmental harm fall outside the scope of this legislation. An example of property damage is when a product destroys other items, such as furniture or clothing.

Provisions in the Product Safety Act och the GPSR

  • Companies must provide safety information that means that you as a consumer can assess the risks entailed by the product or service. If the risks are obvious, the company does not need to provide such information.

  • A company that has sold a dangerous product or service must inform you as a consumer as quickly as possible. The goal of the information is to avoid personal injury. The information can be provided, for example, through advertising in newspapers and on the Internet.

  • A manufacturer or another business operator that has sold a dangerous product must recall the product from stores and other resellers if required to prevent injury. If this is not enough, the manufacturer must also recall the product from you as the consumer.

    In the event of a product recall, the manufacturer must offer you at least two of the following three options:

    • Repair – Fixing the fault that poses a safety risk, for example by repairing the product. Replacement
    • Taking back the faulty item and giving you a new, equivalent product.
    • Refund – Returning the money you paid for the product.

More information

Proofread: 2 September 2025

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