Product Safety in the Pet Industry – DogNews

TÜV SÜD: EU requirements strengthen security and consumer transparency

Munich. Collars, leashes, toys and bowls for pets are not only everyday items of use, but also products that can affect the safety and health of consumers, for example through chemical pollutants or mechanical risks. The regulation has been gaining momentum since it came into force in December 2024 (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR) increasingly important in the pet industry, particularly in relation to product safety, traceability and consumer information.

TÜV SÜD emphasizes that the regulation creates a clear framework for manufacturers, importers and retailers and supports them in providing safe and compliant consumer products. Pet products are primarily subject to the GPSR when they are made available as consumer products on the European market.

“The regulation (EU) 2023/988 serves to protect consumers and sets fundamental requirements for the safety of consumer products,” explains Cristina Marafante, technical expert for toy safety, food contact products and chemical safety at TÜV SÜD. “Products from the pet sector – if they are consumer products – must also be designed to be safe and must not cause any risks to consumers. The focus on safety, traceability and responsibility along the supply chain strengthens consumer trust and promotes uniform safety standards across the European Union.”

Pet market: growing and strategically relevant sector
The European pet market includes over 166 million households with at least one pet, a total of around 352 million animals. The European pet industry is worth over 53 billion euros (FEDIAF European Pet Food). These figures underline the importance of clear safety and quality requirements for products used in pet ownership.

Impact on pet accessories
All pet accessories products – including textiles, toys, electronic devices, bowls, transport boxes, mats and care and hygiene products – must be assessed in accordance with the GPSR and other relevant EU regulations, as applicable. These include the REACH regulation or, for electrical products, the RoHS directive. The Toy Safety Directive may become additionally relevant if a product, due to its design or presentation, could be confused with a children's toy. The aim is to achieve a high and uniform level of security within the EU. A leash must have sufficient tensile strength, a toy must not break easily and bowls must not release substances that are harmful to health.

Technical documentation: core of compliance
According to the regulation (EU) 2023/988, every manufacturer must create, update and keep technical documentation for at least ten years. It includes, among other things:

• Description of the product and the materials used.
• Evidence of product safety and conformity assessment.
• Analysis of chemical, mechanical and electrical risks as well as risks from foreseeable misuse.
• Applied procedures and test methods.
• Test reports and, if necessary, certifications.
• Safe use instructions and warnings.
• Traceability and product identification (e.g. batch or serial number, brand information, manufacturer contacts).

Importers and distributors must have access to relevant parts of the technical documentation to ensure that only compliant products are placed on the market.

Online sales and marketplaces
Products sold via e-commerce must meet the same security and information requirements as products sold in brick-and-mortar stores. Under the GPSR, online marketplaces and certain economic operators must meet the requirements for cooperation with the “Safety Gate” and take appropriate measures in the event of unsafe products. Without an economic operator based in the EU, imported products are not allowed to enter the European market.

Shared responsibility along the supply chain
The regulation defines clear responsibilities for all economic actors, i.e. manufacturers, importers, traders and logistics service providers. Everyone involved must ensure that only safe products are placed on the market. If there are serious risks, they must stop distribution and inform the authorities.

Consumer rights and market surveillance
For dangerous products, rapid warning and recall processes are triggered via the EU “Safety Gate” portal. Consumers must be informed immediately and are entitled to effective remedies at no additional cost. The responsible authorities in the EU member states have expanded coordination and control instruments at European level.

Recommendations for manufacturers, importers and dealers
TÜV SÜD recommends continuously updating internal conformity processes and technical documentation, carrying out appropriate tests in accordance with relevant standards, carefully designing labeling and instructions for use, and systematically implementing traceability and market surveillance. Training for employees and raising awareness among partners and sales channels are just as important. Companies should also involve external technical expertise at an early stage in order to efficiently meet regulatory requirements.

In summary is the regulation (EU) 2023/988 is an important basis for strengthening the safety of consumer products on the European market. For companies in the pet industry, this means in particular that consumer-related products must meet clear safety and information requirements to ensure a high level of consumer protection and market transparency.