Germany has emerged as the most active GPSR enforcement market in the EU. Since the regulation came into force on December 13, 2024, the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency), along with state-level consumer protection offices, has issued formal warnings and demands to hundreds of online sellers — including many based outside Germany.
What German authorities are checking
The Bundesnetzagentur coordinates GPSR enforcement across product categories. Their inspection approach follows a tiered methodology:
- Automated sweeps: Authorities use automated tools to scan product listings on major marketplaces (Amazon.de, Otto, Zalando) for missing mandatory fields — manufacturer name, address, product identifier, and safety information.
- Complaint-driven investigations: Consumer complaints and competitor reports trigger deeper inspections of individual seller accounts.
- Cross-border cooperation: German authorities share findings with RAPEX (the EU rapid alert system) and coordinate directly with French DGCCRF and Dutch ACM when the same seller is active across multiple markets.
The three most common violations found
Based on published enforcement decisions and seller reports, the three most frequently cited violations in Germany are:
- Missing manufacturer identity on product pages. GPSR Article 9 requires the manufacturer's legal name, registered address, and an electronic contact to appear directly on (or linked from) each product page. A footer link to an "About us" page is not sufficient.
- No product identifier. Model numbers, batch numbers, or type references must be clearly visible. Products sold without any identifier are flagged for immediate action.
- Inadequate safety information. Products in regulated categories (electronics, toys, cosmetics, food contact materials) must include safety warnings in German. English-only warnings are non-compliant for German consumers.
Fines and penalties in Germany
Germany's Product Safety Act (ProdSG) provides the framework for GPSR penalties. Fines reach up to €100,000 per violation, with repeat offenders facing escalating sanctions. The Bundesnetzagentur also has authority to:
- Order products to be withdrawn from the German market
- Publish enforcement decisions naming the seller (naming and shaming)
- Report non-compliant sellers to marketplace platforms, triggering account suspension
In addition, Germany's robust Abmahnung (cease and desist) system means competitors and consumer organisations can also take legal action against non-compliant sellers. This creates a dual-track enforcement risk: regulatory fines from public authorities, and private litigation from competitors.
The Impressum requirement
Beyond GPSR, German online sellers must maintain a legally compliant Impressum (imprint) page. This is required under §5 of the Telemedia Act (TMG) and must include: full legal name of the business, registered address, contact email, tax identification number, and — for GmbHs and AGs — commercial register details and managing directors.
Failure to maintain an Impressum is itself a separately actionable violation, and German legal observers note that GPSR inspections frequently trigger secondary Impressum checks.
What this means for non-German sellers
If you sell to German consumers, GPSR applies to you regardless of where your business is registered. Sellers based in the UK, US, China, or elsewhere are subject to the same requirements as German-registered businesses. The key difference is that non-EU sellers must appoint an EU Responsible Person — a legal entity within the EU that accepts liability for product compliance on their behalf.
Run a free GPSR compliance scan of your store to see which requirements you may be missing before German authorities find them first.