Feature

Cybersecurity crack in the General Product Safety Directive

The General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC (GPSD) covers the safety of any products that do not fall under other European Union (EU) Directives, largely serving as a general safety net.

02/08/2021 13:03:42

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Following Brexit, the EU Directives have been transposed into National Law, and UKCA mark requirements have replaced the CE marking requirements. Consequently, the GPSD is enacted in the UK as The General Product
Safety Regulations and the same requirements apply.

However, the GPSD is 20 years old, and while technology has moved on, the directive has not – it does not address technological developments that have
become widely adopted in modern products. Consequently, the directive is currently undergoing a review by the European Parliament and Council that (at the time of writing) may result in a proposal for regulation. Any
changes are likely to become law this year, and all manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should be aware of them.

This is the first review of this directive since 2011 and it is
expected to result in the first significant changes in 20 years. This could have significant consequences for designers and manufacturers who will have to rethink their safety approach...

Read the full article in the August issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.