GPSR vs CE Marking: Differences and What You Need

"My product has the CE mark, so GPSR doesn't apply to me" — this sentence appears on Allegro seller forums almost daily and is almost always wrong. A seller of desk lamps with a Chinese CE mark on the casing was convinced he had compliance "sorted", until Allegro restricted his listing for lacking EU responsible person data. CE and GPSR are two different things that often have to appear together.

This article explains how GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation, EU 2023/988) differs from CE marking, when you need one, the other, or both at once, and how not to confuse the Chinese "China Export" mark with genuine CE.

Key points at a glance

• CE is a declaration of compliance with specific EU directives for selected product categories (e.g. toys, electronics, machinery).

• GPSR (Regulation EU 2023/988) is a general safety net covering practically all consumer products.

• These are not substitutes for one another — many products require both CE and compliance with GPSR's information obligations.

• GPSR has applied since 13 December 2024 and adds the requirement for an EU responsible person and data in the distance-selling listing.

What CE marking is

CE (Conformité Européenne) is a symbol placed on a product indicating that the manufacturer declares its compliance with the relevant EU harmonisation directives or regulations. CE only applies to specific categories for which such rules exist — among others:

• toys (Directive 2009/48/EC),

• low-voltage electrical equipment (LVD),

• electromagnetic compatibility (EMC),

• machinery, personal protective equipment, construction products.

If your product falls into one of these categories, you need a declaration of conformity, technical documentation, and you must apply the CE mark. The mark alone isn't enough — real documentation must stand behind it.

What GPSR is and how it differs from CE

GPSR is not a mark on the product. It's a regulation establishing general safety rules for all consumer products that don't have their own detailed regulations — or that do, but GPSR fills the gaps. You don't apply a "GPSR mark", because no such thing exists. Instead, you fulfil information and documentation obligations.

Feature	CE	GPSR
Nature	Marking + declaration of conformity	General safety regulation
Scope	Selected categories (toys, electronics…)	Practically all consumer products
Mark on the product	Yes — the CE logo	No such mark exists
EU responsible person	Follows from sector-specific rules	Explicitly required (Art. 16)
Data in the online listing	Depends on the directive	Required before purchase

When you need both at once

The most common scenario for an importer from China: an electronic product (e.g. a lamp, charger, speaker). Such a product usually requires CE (because it falls under LVD/EMC) and compliance with GPSR obligations (warnings in Polish, manufacturer and responsible person data, traceability, data in the listing). One does not replace the other.

A simple decision scheme:

• Product in a category covered by CE → you need CE and GPSR.

• Product with no dedicated directives (e.g. a candle, textile, accessory) → GPSR is sufficient as a basis, no CE needed.

• Product with a separate regime (cosmetic, food) → its own rules, neither CE nor GPSR.

What exactly stands behind CE, and what behind GPSR

It's worth separating what "package of evidence" stands behind each of these requirements, because confusing them is the source of most problems.

Behind CE stands: an EU declaration of conformity (a document in which the manufacturer states compliance with specific directives), technical documentation demonstrating compliance with standards, and — for some products — testing by a notified body. The CE mark is the visible result of this process, but the print alone, without documentation, means nothing.

Behind GPSR stands: an internal risk assessment, manufacturer and EU responsible person data, warnings and instructions in Polish, traceability (batch number/model), and making safety data available in the distance-selling listing. There's no mark on the product here — just a set of information and documents.

As a result, an electronic product from China usually needs both paths at once: CE (because it falls under sector directives) and a full set of GPSR information. Ignoring either leads either to a restricted listing or to a problem during an inspection.

Watch out for "China Export"

There's a mark deceptively similar to CE, in which the letters are narrower and closer together — sometimes interpreted as "China Export". It has no legal status. If a Chinese supplier placed such a symbol, it doesn't mean compliance with EU directives. You, as the importer, are responsible for CE — you must have a genuine declaration of conformity and documentation, not just a print on the casing.

What this means for your Allegro listing

Allegro requires GPSR safety data in the listing fields regardless of whether the product has CE. Even a perfectly marked product with CE will be restricted if the listing lacks manufacturer and responsible person data. We explain how to fill these in correctly in GPSR on Allegro — how to add the required information. We map out the full path to compliance in GPSR step by step — from product to compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Does CE replace GPSR?

No. CE is a declaration of compliance with specific directives for selected categories, while GPSR is a general safety regulation covering almost all consumer products. An electronic product usually requires both CE and compliance with GPSR's information obligations at the same time.

My product doesn't have CE — does that mean I don't have to do anything?

No. The absence of a CE requirement doesn't mean the absence of obligations. Products without their own directives are still subject to GPSR: they must be safe, have warnings and instructions in Polish, manufacturer and EU responsible person data, and traceability.

Is a Chinese CE mark on the product enough?

The print alone isn't enough. The importer is responsible for CE marking, and it must be backed by a declaration of conformity and technical documentation. Also watch out for the visually similar mark interpreted as "China Export", which has no legal status in the EU.

When did GPSR start to apply?

Regulation (EU) 2023/988 has applied since 13 December 2024 in all European Union countries, replacing the earlier General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC.