Karl Longbottom Guitars and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) (Regulation (EU) 2023/988) replaces the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) and strengthens consumer protection in the EU. It  ensures that all non-food consumer products placed ‘on the EU market’ are safe and meet modern safety standards. The GPSR applies from December 13, 2024, ensuring better protection for EU consumers and a more uniform regulatory framework for businesses like Karl Longbottom Guitars (this will be used as shorthand for the business details located at https://karllongbottomguitars.com/).

Non-compliance can lead to product delisting, fines, and loss of market access, so we’re taking it seriously. It applies to all products entering the EU from this date.

On this page, we outline the steps we have taken to meet these new regulations and provide you with the information you need before purchasing from Karl Longbottom Guitars.

Key Aspects of GPSR (and how they apply to Karl Longbottom Guitars):

• Covers all non-food consumer products sold in the EU, including those from third-party sellers outside the EU. This means our pedals, test kits, and parts fall under the regulation if sold to EU consumers.

• Applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and online marketplaces. As a seller directly to consumers, Karl Longbottom Guitars is directly responsible.

• Products must meet EU safety standards before being placed on the market. We are committed to ensuring our products meet all applicable EU safety standards.

• Requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors to improve product traceability and safety compliance. We are enhancing our product traceability and safety compliance procedures.

• Every product sold must have a responsible economic operator in the EU (importer, manufacturer, or authorized representative). We have appointed S. de Knoop as our Authorised Representative in the EU.

• Products must be traceable, ensuring fast recalls if safety issues arise. Everything we sell to the EU will have a batch number so we can trace it back with our suppliers if we need to.

• Companies must notify authorities and consumers quickly if a product is found unsafe. We have procedures in place for rapid notification in the event of a safety issue.

• Consumers should have the right to repair, replacement, or refund for recalled items. We are committed to providing appropriate remedies in the event of a recall.

• Authorities can enforce stricter penalties for non-compliance. We are dedicated to full compliance to avoid penalties.

• Ensures continuous compliance with safety regulations as products evolve through software updates. For any products with software components, we will ensure ongoing compliance.

Our Authorised Representative (AR): S. de Knoop

An Authorised Representative (AR) for the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) in the EU acts on behalf of a non-EU manufacturer (in this case, Karl Longbottom Guitars) to ensure compliance with EU product safety laws. We have appointed S. de Knoop, a trusted partner with whom we’ve worked for several years, to fulfil this role.

Their key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring Compliance: Verifying that Karl Longbottom Guitars has met all GPSR safety and conformity requirements.

• Holding Documentation: Keeping the technical documentation and EU Declaration of Conformity available for authorities.

• Cooperating with Authorities: Responding to market surveillance requests and facilitating corrective actions if needed.

• Product Safety & Traceability: Ensuring that importers and distributors receive correct product compliance information.

• Acting as a Contact Point: Being the official EU-based contact for product safety matters.

• S. de Knoop does not replace Karl Longbottom Guitars legal responsibility but supports regulatory compliance within the EU market.

Contact Information for S. de Knoop 

S. de Knoop 

Lef + Liefde

Gemma Frisiusstraat 2 

5141AW

Waalwijk 

The Netherlands 

gpsrkarllongbottomguitars@gmail.com

GPSR Information for Our EU Customers:

Anyone in the EU shopping at Karl Longbottom Guitars must have access to GPSR information and safety warnings both BEFORE and AFTER purchase. As a result, we have updated all our online products with additional information on each product page so you can see the manufacturers and makers we work with. We have also ensured that there are detailed safety warnings (where applicable) and clear care instructions.

In addition, we include information with your order including manufacturer details, Authorised Representative details and safety information for the product you have bought. Please keep this safe for future reference.

To be compliant, this information is also in multiple languages to make your life easier.

Traceability at Karl Longbottom Guitars.

One of the cornerstones of the GPSR Regulations is that products must be traceable, ensuring fast recalls if safety issues arise. Everything we sell to the EU will have a batch number so we can trace it back with our suppliers if we need to. Whilst much of what we sell is very low risk and unlikely to need to be recalled, we appreciate this is important for both compliance and also good practice.

We will label products with this information.

Our Suppliers, Their Suppliers, Your Safety

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) sets strict safety requirements to ensure all consumer products sold in the EU are safe.

As a result, we have contacted all our suppliers and asked questions about their manufacturing processes, their suppliers, proof of compliance with EU Standards and Regulations such as REACH (regulating the use of chemical substances in products such as paints, lacquers and textiles), and RoHS (regulating the use of hazardous materials in the manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment), their sustainability both in sourcing but also in output so we can ensure that products and packaging are more durable, reusable and recyclable.

We also asked about their supply chains to ensure as much transparency as possible across waste, the environment, best labour practices.

Declarations of Conformity (DoC)

Using the information from our suppliers (above) we have put together ‘Technical Documentation’ for all our products.

With the TD in place we have been able to create an EU Declaration of Conformity which is available for the EU Authorities and sits with our Authorised Representative.

Our Packaging

At Karl Longbottom Guitars.com, we’re committed to minimizing our environmental impact, and that includes our packaging. We believe in reducing waste wherever possible. To that end, we prioritize the following:

Re-used Packaging: We actively re-use packaging materials whenever feasible, giving them a second life and reducing the demand for new resources. This is primarily with internal packaging.

Eco-Friendly Shipping Materials: When we use new packaging materials, we use eco-friendly shipping materials such as cardboard, recycled cardboard boxes, biodegradable void fill.

Royal Mail: We primarily ship with Royal Mail, which has a strong commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. According to Royal Mail’s own reporting, they “have the lowest reported carbon emissions per parcel amongst major UK delivery companies.” We appreciate their dedication to sustainable delivery practices.

We strive to ensure that your order arrives safely and securely while minimizing our impact on the planet.