Compliance Checklist

GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation)
Furniture
Italy 🇮🇹

GPSR compliance for furniture on Amazon.it: obligations under Regulation (EU) 2023/988, Italian enforcement under D.Lgs. 78/2026, UNI standards and Italian-language labelling.

Overview

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Regulation (EU) 2023/988, has been in force since December 13, 2024 and is the central safety framework for furniture on Amazon.it, since there is no dedicated EU furniture directive. With Decreto Legislativo 78/2026 (of 08/04/2026, published in Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 111 of 15/05/2026, in force since 16/05/2026), Italy rewrote Art. 112 of the Codice del Consumo (D.Lgs. 206/2005): placing dangerous products on the market is now sanctioned with arrest (6 months to 1 year) AND a fine (10,000-100,000 EUR), plus a separate administrative sanction for failing to cooperate with authorities. Since the reform, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) and Guardia di Finanza have direct access to the EU Safety Gate. Harmonised EN furniture standards are adopted in Italy as identical UNI EN standards (e.g. UNI EN 14749:2022), published by the Ente Italiano di Normazione (UNI).

Does this apply to my product?

The GPSR applies to all furniture and furnishing items sold to consumers on Amazon.it: shelves, cabinets, tables, chairs, beds, dressers, TV units, coffee tables, desks, outdoor furniture pieces and flat-pack furniture. Exceptions include antiques and products falling under sector-specific EU harmonisation legislation with their own safety requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide

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Determine your role as economic operator and derive obligations

The GPSR defines different obligations depending on your role in the supply chain. Correctly identifying your role is the first step towards compliance.

Estimated time: 1-2 Tage

Own role as economic operator identified (manufacturer, importer, distributor or fulfilment service provider)Required

Manufacturer: Develops or has products manufactured under their own name/brand. Importer: Brings products from outside the EU into the EU market. Distributor: Offers products without being manufacturer or importer. Fulfilment service provider: Offers storage, packaging or shipping.

Responsible Person in the EU designated (Art. 16 GPSR)Required

If the manufacturer is based outside the EU and there is no importer or authorised representative in the EU, a Responsible Person in the EU must be designated. This person must be indicated on the product or packaging with contact details.

Appointment agreement with the Responsible Person (if applicable)

Conduct risk assessment and check UNI standards

The GPSR requires an internal risk analysis of furniture-typical hazards. In Italy, the EU standards apply as identical UNI EN standards.

Estimated time: 3-7 Tage

Risk analysis for furniture-specific hazards completedRequired

Typical furniture risks: tip-over risk for cabinets and shelves (especially without wall anchoring, also relevant for TV units), pinch hazards at drawers and folding parts, sharp edges, breakage risk for glass parts, harmful substances in paints and adhesives (e.g. formaldehyde), suffocation risk from packaging material.

Written risk analysis evaluating all identified hazards

Relevant UNI EN standards checked and complied withRequired

Italy has adopted the harmonised EU furniture standards as identical UNI EN standards: UNI EN 14749:2022 (current version, storage/kitchen/bathroom furniture, with an amendment for TV unit stability), UNI EN 16139 (non-domestic seating), UNI EN 1116 (kitchen furniture coordinating dimensions), UNI EN 16121 (non-domestic storage furniture). Compliance creates a presumption of conformity.

Harmful substance testing for coatings and materialsRequired

Test paints, coatings, upholstery and adhesives for harmful substances: formaldehyde (REACH compliant per Annex XVII No. 72), heavy metals, plasticisers in faux leather/upholstery. Particularly strict for children's furniture.

Harmful substance test report from an accredited laboratory

Voluntary CATAS testing/certification considered (optional)

CATAS (San Giovanni al Natisone, UD) is Italy's leading furniture testing and certification institute (stability, load, fire behaviour, harmful substances). Per CATAS's own published FAQ, CATAS testing is NOT a legal requirement in Italy, but it is widely expected by the market (particularly contract/hotel business) and can serve as additional evidence of due diligence towards authorities.

Ensure technical documentation and traceability

The GPSR requires complete traceability and technical documentation that must be presented to Italian authorities on request.

Estimated time: 3-5 Tage

Technical documentation compiledRequired

Content: product description with material specifications, risk analysis, applied UNI EN standards and test reports, production controls, photos of the product and labelling, assembly and safety instructions.

Technical documentation as a coherent dossier

Traceability ensured (batch number, model identification)Required

Each furniture product must be uniquely identifiable: model designation, batch/serial number, manufacturer details on the product or packaging.

Apply Italian-language labelling and consumer information

In addition to the GPSR mandatory information, Art. 104 of the Codice del Consumo requires consumer information to be easily understandable in Italian.

Estimated time: 2-4 Tage

Contact details of manufacturer and/or Responsible Person on product/packagingRequired

Mandatory information under Art. 9 GPSR: name, registered trade name or registered trademark, postal address and electronic contact. For importers: additionally importer details.

Assembly instructions and safety warnings in Italian language includedRequired

Art. 104 of the Codice del Consumo (D.Lgs. 206/2005) requires information for the safe use of a product to be provided in Italian. For flat-pack furniture this means: assembly drawings plus safety instructions in Italian.

Assembly and safety instructions in Italian language

Warnings for foreseeable misuse appliedRequired

Warnings must cover foreseeable misuse: state maximum load capacity, warning against climbing on shelves (children), note that wall anchoring is required.

Set up reporting obligations and account for tightened sanctions since D.Lgs. 78/2026

The GPSR obliges reporting of safety defects. Since D.Lgs. 78/2026, the sanction framework for dangerous products in Italy has tightened significantly.

Estimated time: 1-3 Tage

Internal complaints register and recall procedure establishedRequired

Maintain a register of customer complaints and defective products. Report serious risks via the EU Safety Business Gateway; the responsible Camera di Commercio handles territorial sanction proceedings.

Know the tightened sanction framework under D.Lgs. 78/2026

Since D.Lgs. 78/2026 (in force from 16/05/2026), the rewritten Art. 112 of the Codice del Consumo provides for arrest (6 months to 1 year) AND a fine (10,000-100,000 EUR) for placing dangerous products on the market, plus a separate administrative sanction for failing to cooperate. The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) and Guardia di Finanza have direct access to the EU Safety Gate.

Complete Amazon listing with GPSR mandatory fields

Since December 2024, Amazon requires GPSR mandatory information in Seller Central. Without correct details, listing suspension on Amazon.it is possible.

Estimated time: 1-2 Tage

GPSR mandatory fields in Amazon Seller Central completedRequired

The following GPSR data must be entered in Seller Central: manufacturer name and address, name and address of the Responsible Person in the EU (if manufacturer outside EU), contact option, warnings and safety information.

Product images with visible labels and safety warnings

Ensure Amazon product images show the labelling. For flat-pack furniture: image of the included wall anchoring kit if available.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

No Responsible Person in the EU designated for third-country manufacturers

Consequence: Without a Responsible Person per Art. 16 GPSR, the furniture product may not be sold on Amazon.it since December 2024. Amazon can suspend the listing, and for dangerous products the tightened Art. 112 Codice del Consumo also applies since D.Lgs. 78/2026.

Prevention: Designate a Responsible Person based in the EU before starting sales.

Assembly instructions only in English or Chinese included

Consequence: Violation of Art. 104 Codice del Consumo on Italian-language labelling. Customers may assemble furniture incorrectly, leading to safety risks, increased returns and negative reviews.

Prevention: Ensure assembly instructions and safety warnings are available in Italian, ideally with language-independent drawings.

Ignoring tip-over protection for shelves, cabinets and TV units

Consequence: Tipping furniture - TV units in particular - is one of the most common causes of household accidents, especially involving children. Missing tip-over protection can lead to recalls and liability claims; in more serious cases, the tightened Art. 112 Codice del Consumo applies since D.Lgs. 78/2026.

Prevention: Include a wall anchoring kit with every cabinet, shelf and TV unit over 60 cm. Test tip-over safety according to UNI EN 14749.

CATAS certification mistaken for a legal requirement

Consequence: Some sellers wrongly assume CATAS testing is mandatory and delay their launch unnecessarily, or conversely advertise a non-existent mandatory seal. Per CATAS's own published information, CATAS testing is voluntary in Italy; GPSR, REACH and the UNI EN standards remain mandatory.

Prevention: Treat CATAS certification as a voluntary market advantage (particularly in contract/hotel business), not as a precondition for selling on Amazon.it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1Do furniture products need CE marking in Italy?

No. Since there is no specific EU directive for furniture that requires CE marking, furniture products must not bear a CE mark - it would even be misleading. Furniture safety is instead regulated via the GPSR, which does not provide for CE marking.

Q2What changed for furniture sellers in Italy with D.Lgs. 78/2026?

D.Lgs. 78/2026 (in force since 16/05/2026) rewrote Art. 112 of the Codice del Consumo: placing dangerous products on the market is now sanctioned with arrest (6 months-1 year) AND a fine (10,000-100,000 EUR), with a separate administrative sanction for failing to cooperate with authorities. Since then, ADM and Guardia di Finanza have direct access to the EU Safety Gate, which speeds up inspections.

Q3Is CATAS certification mandatory to sell on Amazon.it?

No. CATAS is Italy's leading furniture testing institute, but CATAS itself states that its testing is not a legal requirement. GPSR, REACH and the UNI EN standards remain mandatory. CATAS seals are a voluntary quality and trust mark, common particularly in contract/hotel business.

Q4What happens if I don't fill in the GPSR mandatory fields as an Amazon seller?

Amazon can suspend your listing or restrict your seller account. Since December 2024, Amazon enforces the provision of manufacturer data, Responsible Person and contact information. For dangerous products, ADM/Guardia di Finanza can additionally investigate under the tightened Art. 112 Codice del Consumo.

Q5Which harmful substances are particularly relevant for furniture?

Formaldehyde is the most common problematic substance - found in chipboard, MDF, adhesives and paints. The REACH Regulation (Annex XVII No. 72) limits formaldehyde content EU-wide, directly applicable in Italy too. Other relevant substances: heavy metals in paints, plasticisers in faux leather. Particularly strict limits apply to children's furniture.

GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation)FurnitureItaly 🇮🇹