Know what's in force, what's phasing in, and what's coming — for every major EU regulation affecting importers sourcing from China.
The most significant product safety overhaul in 20 years. Replaces the old GPSD. Every consumer product imported into the EU must now have an EU Responsible Person (natural or legal person with an EU address). Importers are classified as economic operators with direct liability. Online marketplaces have new obligations.
Requires all packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable by 2030. Minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging. Mandatory reuse targets for certain categories. Restrictions on unnecessary packaging and PFAS in food-contact packaging. Directly affects any product shipped in non-compliant packaging from China.
The world's first carbon border tax. Importers of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and electricity must purchase CBAM certificates matching the carbon price that would have been paid under the EU ETS. Transitional reporting phase ran 2023–2025. Full financial obligations begin January 2026. Primarily affects industrial goods but signals broader expansion.
Bans products linked to deforestation or forest degradation from EU market access. In scope: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber — and derived products. Companies must prove products are "deforestation-free" with GPS coordinates and due diligence statements. Relevant to any importer sourcing furniture, rubber products, or wood-based goods from China.
CE marking is a mandatory conformity marker for products sold in the EU/EEA. It is self-declared (for most categories) but requires a completed technical file, Declaration of Conformity, and in some cases testing by a Notified Body. Key directives relevant to China-sourced goods: Low Voltage Directive (LVD), EMC Directive, RoHS (electronics), Toys Safety Directive, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, PPE Regulation.
REACH restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in articles imported into the EU. The SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) Candidate List is updated twice yearly — currently over 240 substances. Articles containing SVHCs above 0.1% w/w must be communicated to recipients. Many consumer products from China historically fail REACH screening. A key check in our EU-Readiness Score.
Prohibits the sale, import, and export of products made using forced labour on the EU market. Based on ILO forced labour indicators. Applies to all products regardless of origin. National competent authorities and the European Commission can investigate and withdraw products. Xinjiang supply chain exposure is a specific risk flagged in our assessments. No safe harbour for ignorance — due diligence required.
Governs all cosmetic products sold in the EU. Requires a Product Information File (PIF), Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) by a qualified safety assessor, notification in the CPNP portal, and labelling in the language of the country of sale. Regular ingredient restrictions added via Annexes. CMR substances banned. Animal testing ban in force.
The DPP requires products to carry a QR code or similar data carrier linking to standardised sustainability data — materials, repairability, recycled content, carbon footprint. Priority categories: batteries (already in ESPR), textiles, electronics, furniture, construction products. First DPP delegated acts expected by late 2026. Will require suppliers to provide structured data on product composition.
Safety Gate is the EU's rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products. Over 2,300 notifications per year — approximately 60% involve products originating from China. Presence in Safety Gate alerts is a negative signal in our EU-Readiness Score. We screen all assessed suppliers against the Safety Gate database during monthly report production.
Importers of electrical and electronic equipment into the EU must register with a national WEEE producer compliance scheme in each member state they sell into. Products must carry the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol. You are responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recycling of end-of-life products. Failure to register is a criminal offence in most EU states.
The most comprehensive battery legislation globally. Replaces the old Battery Directive with binding sustainability, performance, and labelling requirements. Any product containing a battery — from power banks to garden tools — is affected. Importers must obtain a Battery Passport (QR code linked to carbon footprint, recycled content, due diligence data) for all battery types above threshold. Minimum recycled content requirements phase in from 2031.
CE marking is mandatory for all toys intended for children under 14. Conformity assessment must cover mechanical and physical properties (EN 71-1), flammability (EN 71-2), and chemical migration (EN 71-3), including strict limits on heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. Age-grading and choking hazard warnings are mandatory. A revised Toy Safety Regulation is currently in EU legislative process and expected to tighten chemical restrictions and add digital toy provisions.
The CRA introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for all products with digital elements — any device that connects to a network or contains software. This includes smart home devices, IoT sensors, connected appliances, and industrial equipment. Importers must ensure products are secure by design, maintain a vulnerability disclosure policy, support security updates for 5 years, and provide a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). CE marking will require CRA conformity from December 2027.
Our EU-Readiness Score accounts for every regulation relevant to your niche — so you don't have to track them manually.
We'll email you whenever this regulation has a significant update — enforcement date changes, guidance published, or enforcement actions in your category.
