GPSR: The Final Nail in the Coffin for UK Small Sellers?

GPSR Rules: The Final Nail in the Coffin for UK Small Sellers*

This month, the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) came into effect, and for small UK sellers like me, it feels like the final blow. As if rising costs, Brexit fallout, and endless hurdles weren’t enough, the requirement to appoint an official “Authorised Representative” (or agent) for selling goods is unbearable.

What the GPSR Means for Small Sellers

Under GPSR, if I sell products to EU customers, I now need an Authorised Representative within the EU to ensure my products meet their safety standards. This agent becomes legally liable for my goods, meaning they require hefty fees and extensive documentation to accept that responsibility. For larger businesses, it’s a manageable cost. For micro-businesses like mine? It’s devastating.

Why This is a Problem

The new rules add:

• High costs: Agents charge hundreds or even thousands of pounds per year—more than my typical EU sales justify.
• Administrative overload: Managing contracts, compliance, and documentation eats into the limited time I already have.
• Barriers to trade: Without an agent, I simply can’t sell to EU customers, cutting off a valuable market.

For small, handmade businesses like mine, the EU was often a lifeline. These rules make selling there nearly impossible unless I scale up or absorb unsustainable costs.

The Emotional Weight

It’s heartbreaking to think about losing EU customers I’ve worked so hard to build relationships with. But beyond that, this feels like another sign that small, independent sellers aren’t valued in the modern economy. It’s as though the system is designed to favour big corporations while shutting out creative, independent businesses.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Honestly, I don’t know. The cost of compliance is too high, and without affordable solutions, I may have to stop selling to the EU altogether. For many of us, the GPSR agent requirement isn’t just a hurdle—it’s a brick wall.

I wish I had answers or optimism to share, but right now, it’s hard not to feel defeated. To my fellow sellers navigating this: you’re not alone. I hope we can push for better, more proportional regulations that don’t crush the little guys. Until then, I’ll be here, doing what I can to keep going.

*PLEASE NOTE, these are all my own opinions about the GPSR rules and how they will affect my own business. I didn't vote Brexit, perhaps the people that did welcome this... perhaps those people will buy from small businesses enough to bring our income back to the level it was with free trade...perhaps not 🤬