Regulation (EU) 2023/988 is the safety net of EU product law. It applies to products placed or made available on the market that are intended for consumers or likely to be used by them, insofar as no specific Union rules with the same objective regulate their safety; where sector legislation exists, the regulation covers only the risks that legislation does not address (Article 2). Article 5 states the general safety requirement in one sentence: economic operators shall place or make available on the market only safe products. Article 3(2) defines a safe product as one that, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, presents no risk or only the minimum risks compatible with its use, and Article 6 lists the aspects to consider, including design, packaging, instructions, interaction with other products and the consumers at risk, in particular children.
The regulation replaced the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC. It entered into force on 12 June 2023 and applies from 13 December 2024 (Article 52). Its obligations follow the supply chain: an internal risk analysis and technical documentation for manufacturers, verification duties for importers, due care for distributors, a responsible person established in the EU for every product (Article 16), information requirements for distance sales (Article 19) and a dedicated chapter for online marketplaces (Article 22). Accidents must be notified through the Safety Business Gateway, dangerous products are notified by Member States through the Safety Gate Rapid Alert System, and consumers are entitled to repair, replacement or refund when a product is recalled (Article 37).
In Denmark the regulation is enforced under the Danish Products Act (produktloven) by the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen), which took over the tasks of the Danish Safety Technology Authority (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen) on 1 January 2026.