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Why clear instructions are your best defence under GPSR
GPSR makes clear instructions a legal requirement. What they must contain, what applies to connected products, and which standard defines clarity.
Under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, manufacturers must provide clear instructions and safety information unless the product can be used safely without them. Instructions are part of the risk mitigation: what design cannot eliminate, the instructions must warn about.
What instructions must cover
- A language easily understood by consumers in each target country.
- Warnings, disposal and recycling information.
- Interoperability with other products where relevant.
- Cybersecurity risks for connected products.
- Repair and maintenance guidance where consumer repairs are allowed.
- Software updates or replacement parts that affect safety.
Connected products
For products with internet connectivity, GPSR expects instructions on cybersecurity protection, privacy measures, update procedures and external risks that could compromise safety. Manufacturers of smart devices, wearables and home automation must build this into their documentation.
What clear means
The standard EN IEC/IEEE 82079-1 describes how usable information for products is structured, written and evaluated. Following it gives manufacturers a defensible basis when an authority questions whether instructions were adequate.
How Representa handles it
- Review of labels, packaging and manuals against GPSR requirements.
- Coordination of translations into the required EU languages.
- Instructions kept on file as part of the technical documentation.