EU is preparing a NEW product compliance process and procedures for all type of goods
The European Commission is currently finalizing a major regulatory overhaul designed to streamline product compliance, accreditation, and market enforcement across the bloc. The draft proposal for a horizontal regulation, known as the European Product Act (EPA), is currently undergoing inter-service consultation.
This new framework aims to unify existing fragmented rules and align them with the demands of the digital era, the circular economy, and the exponential growth of e-commerce and third-country imports. Currently, EU product safety and compliance rules are split across multiple legislative documents, including Decision No 768/2008/EC, Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. The upcoming EPA will merge these texts into a single, directly applicable regulation, repealing the older laws.
This shifts the EU away from the traditional “New Legislative Framework” model—which required general rules to be transposed piece by piece into individual sectoral laws—and introduces a uniform, horizontal rulebook that applies directly across all affected industries. A core pillar in the reform is the rollout of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) alongside a digital CE marking system. Linked to a new European Product Act Registry, this network will store vital data regarding product identity, manufacturing sites, economic operators, and conformity certificates.Furthermore, the regulation imposes strict new obligations on online marketplaces: Pre-sale Verification, Rapid Takedowns, Central Registration.
Additionally, authorized representatives operating within the EU will face tighter rules, including a mandatory requirement to hold professional liability insurance.
The proposal closely integrates EU market surveillance with border controls via the upcoming Union Customs Code by doing Automated Screenings:, Targeted Holds, Implementation of New Compliance Fee, EU Customs Authority Oversight. The Regulation is set to enter into force the day after its official publication, with a phased rollout as such: General Provisions – 2 years after entry into force, DPP and Operator Mandates – mandatory 4 years after entry into force.
- Unified Horizontal Rulebook: The EPA replaces several fragmented laws with a single, directly applicable regulation, eliminating the need to transpose general product compliance rules into individual sectoral laws.
- Mandatory Digital Product Passports (DPP): All product, operator, and compliance data will be digitized and tracked via a mandatory DPP and digital CE marking system.
- Strict Accountability for E-Commerce: Online marketplaces must pre-screen listings for valid compliance data, swiftly take down unsafe items, and register with a centralized EU Data Hub.
- Integrated Customs Controls & New Fees: Border entry will feature automated DPP checks, a 4-day hold window for suspicious goods, a new per-unit “Union market surveillance fee,” and centralized oversight by the EU Customs Authority starting in 2031.
- Phased Rolling Timeline: While basic elements of the regulation apply after 2 years, the core digital mandates (including the DPP and operator obligations) will become strictly legally binding 4 years after the law takes effect.
