DSA & GPSR explained: Essential compliance for online sellers

With the growing focus on safer and more transparent eCommerce, the EU has introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) to enforce new standards for online sellers. These regulations mandate that marketplaces and sellers share specific information about product safety and accountability, aiming to protect consumers and streamline responsibilities.

For online businesses, this means adapting to new requirements for uploading product and operator information—yet the specific compliance steps vary across marketplaces. Here’s a breakdown of what the DSA and GPSR require and how Channable is working to support businesses in staying compliant.

What is the Digital Services Act (DSA)?

The DSA introduces strict measures to combat illegal content, promote transparent advertising, and curb disinformation on online platforms. For online sellers, this means ensuring that detailed contact information of a responsible economic operator within the EU is available to consumers.

This information includes the operator's name, address, phone number, and email, making it easier to track product accountability. Sellers on platforms like social networks, app stores, and marketplaces are required to ensure this information is complete and accurate.

What is the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)?

The GPSR, effective from December 13, 2024, replaces the previous General Product Safety Directive for non-food products, introducing new packaging and online listing requirements.

When selling online, businesses need to include certifications and documents showing compliance with safety standards for specific product categories. This can involve uploading certifications like CE marks or images showing product safety labels, allowing marketplaces to easily verify safety standards before products reach consumers.

How marketplaces handle DSA and GPSR compliance

Not all marketplaces are implementing the changes the same way. Here’s a look at two main approaches:

1. Direct datamodel integration: Some marketplaces, such as Amazon, OTTO, Allegro, and Zalando, have chosen to add fields directly in their datamodels to capture the DSA-required information. This includes fields for manufacturer/importer contact details, which can be filled with static values or set to vary by item. In Channable, these fields are available in the Build step, allowing sellers to easily manage compliance for each product.

2. Creating an economic operator profile: Other marketplaces, like Miravia and bol, ask sellers to create a profile for the economic operator within their seller environment. This profile, which includes essential contact information, receives a unique ID that can be linked to products. For sellers using Channable, this ID can be added in the Build step, streamlining the process through Channable's rule engine.

GPSR compliance and safety documentation

To comply with GPSR, sellers need to provide category-specific safety documents and product labels on marketplaces. These safety files, such as CE certifications or product safety warnings, appear as fields within Channable’s Attributes section.

This simplifies compliance by integrating safety labels and certifications directly into product listings, ensuring visibility and accessibility for buyers across multiple platforms.

Current challenges and ongoing support from Channable

While some marketplaces are well-prepared for DSA and GPSR requirements, others are still defining their processes, leading to variations in implementation. Channable’s team is actively tracking these updates and adapting our platform accordingly.

For those marketplaces that have clarified their requirements, Channable provides tools for users to manage compliance with minimal friction. As we learn more about how marketplaces like TikTok Shops and others plan to support these changes, we’ll update our platform to ensure users can maintain compliance efficiently.

Navigating compliance with Channable: Simplifying DSA & GPSR requirements

Adapting to new regulations like the DSA and GPSR may seem daunting, but with the right tools and support, online sellers can ensure compliance and build trust with consumers. Channable is committed to providing users with solutions that simplify these processes, from data model integration to seamless profile management.

As we continue monitoring marketplace changes, our goal remains to support sellers in navigating these evolving requirements—empowering businesses to focus on growth while meeting the latest standards in product safety and transparency.