GPSR for Your Own Store: WooCommerce and Shopify

The owner of a WooCommerce shop sells household accessories and gadgets imported from Asia. Until now, they were convinced that GPSR requirements only applied to large marketplaces like Amazon or Allegro, because it was these platforms that sent compliance notices. In fact, the GPSR (EU) 2023/988 regulation, in force since 13 December 2024, covers every sale of consumer products to consumers in the EU, regardless of the channel. A shop of your own on WooCommerce or Shopify is no exception, and in a sense it means even greater responsibility, because there's no platform forcing you to complete the data.

Why having your own shop doesn't exempt you from GPSR

GPSR regulates the placing and making available of products on the EU market, not the sales channel. If you offer products to consumers in Poland through your own shop, you're an economic operator covered by the regulation. The difference is that on Amazon, the system itself reminds you of gaps, while in your own shop the responsibility for the completeness of information rests entirely with you. You're simultaneously the seller and often the importer, so you can act as the Responsible Person if you're established in the EU.

What information you must show in your shop

GPSR requires the consumer to receive safety information before making a purchase. In practice, the following must appear on the product page and in the shop:

• the name and address of the manufacturer,
• the name and contact details of the Responsible Person (RP) in the EU,
• the product identifier (model, batch number),
• warnings and safety instructions in Polish,
• the CE marking where required (e.g. electronics, toys).

Where to place the data in WooCommerce and Shopify

Both platforms let you add the required information without third-party plugins, although plugins make managing a large catalogue easier.

Element	WooCommerce	Shopify
RP and manufacturer details	Product description or custom field	Product description or metafield
Safety warnings	Product tab / short description	Description section / template block
Terms and legal information	Static pages + footer	Static pages + footer
Seller contact details	Contact page + footer	Contact page + footer

Additional obligations arising from consumer law

Your own shop isn't just about GPSR. Rounding out the formal requirements are:

• the shop's terms and conditions and privacy policy (GDPR),
• information about the consumer's 14-day right of withdrawal,
• seller details (tax ID, address, legal form),
• clear information about the price and delivery costs.

GPSR adds a product safety layer to these obligations, but doesn't replace distance-selling regulations.

Practical implementation on the product page

The most common question shop owners ask is where exactly to place the data so it complies with GPSR. Best practice is to link the safety information directly to the product, not just to the shop's general pages. In WooCommerce you can use custom fields or an additional product tab to collect the RP details, manufacturer details, identifier and warnings. In Shopify, metafields work well, letting you attach structured compliance data to each product and display it in the page template. For larger catalogues, it's worth considering plugins or apps that manage compliance data in bulk, rather than manually editing hundreds of products.

It's important that the consumer sees this information before adding the product to the basket, not only after purchase. GPSR emphasises that safety data and warnings must be available at the purchase-decision stage. This is why placing them only in the terms and conditions or in a post-purchase email doesn't meet the requirement. A good solution is a visible section on the product page, complemented by information on the physical product's label.

The advantage of your own shop and the risk that comes with it

Your own shop gives you full control over how data is presented and no marketplace commission. The flip side is that nobody checks the completeness of information for you. If RP details or warnings are missing, you're directly liable in the event of an inspection by market surveillance authorities (in Poland, UOKiK and the Trade Inspection). That's why it's worth treating the compliance checklist just as seriously as you would on a large platform.

If you also sell through marketplaces, check out Multichannel selling and GPSR — one set of documentation. Sellers from outside the Union should start with RP for a non-EU seller — responsibilities.

Checklist for implementing GPSR in your own shop

• establish who the RP is (if you're established in the EU, this can be your own company),
• collect the technical documentation and risk assessment for each product,
• add RP details, manufacturer details and the product identifier to the product pages,
• include warnings and instructions in Polish,
• complete the terms and conditions, privacy policy and returns information,
• prepare a procedure in case of an accident report or product withdrawal.

Frequently asked questions

Does my small WooCommerce shop really fall under GPSR?

Yes. GPSR has no turnover threshold or exemption for small shops. What matters is that you sell consumer products to consumers in the EU.

Do I need a separate Responsible Person?

If you're established in the EU and import the products yourself, your company can act as the RP. Sellers from outside the EU must designate an entity established in the Union.

Is it enough to put the RP details in the shop's footer?

No. The details must be linked to the product and available to the consumer alongside the listing, not just generally in the footer. It's best to place them on the product page.

Does Shopify itself enforce GPSR compliance?

Not to the extent a marketplace does. Shopify provides tools to add the information, but responsibility for its completeness rests with the seller.