‍Festive decorations may be seasonal, but EU product safety rules apply all year round.

Since December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has set stricter standards for the design, testing and traceability of consumer goods – and seasonal decorations are no exception. 

These products might only stay on shelves for a few weeks each year, but the compliance work behind them is continuous.

For brands that make, import or distribute seasonal decorations, GPSR compliance is now a core part of doing business in Europe. Here’s your high-level guide to meeting the regulation and protecting your sales.

‍What counts as seasonal decorations under GPSR?

Seasonal decorations are consumer products designed for temporary or occasional use linked to specific holidays or celebrations. Examples include:

• Lighting: Christmas lights, illuminated garlands, decorative lanterns
• Indoor and outdoor ornaments: Halloween pumpkins, Easter eggs, Valentine hearts, Thanksgiving centrepieces
• Festive textiles: Table runners, stockings, themed cushions
• Novelty items: Musical figurines, moving/motorised decorations, battery-powered displays

All these seasonal products fall under GPSR when sold to EU consumers — whether they are electrical, mechanical or purely decorative.

How GPSR impacts seasonal decoration manufacturers

GPSR places primary responsibility on manufacturers to ensure every product is safe before it reaches the EU market. Some seasonal decorations can pose particular risks to consumers if not up to specification, such as:

• Fire and electrical hazards (faulty Christmas lights, overheating LED units, flammable fabrics)
• Chemical hazards (lead in paints or glitter, restricted substances under REACH)
• Choking and ingestion risks (small detachable parts on ornaments)
• Food-imitation hazards (decorations shaped or scented like food that may attract children)

To comply with GPSR, manufacturers must conduct formal risk assessments, covering these hazards throughout the product lifecycle — from design to disposal — and keep written reports available for inspection for 10 years after placing products on the market.

‍Technical documentation and testing

GPSR requires seasonal decoration manufacturers to compile a technical file for each product, containing information including: 

• Complete product specifications and design drawings
• Risk assessment reports (fire, electrical, chemical, mechanical)
• Safety testing documentation (e.g. electrical testing for lights, flammability testing for textiles, chemical analysis of paints or coatings)
• Quality control procedures 
• Instructions for safe installation, use and disposal

Manufacturers must ensure that risk-based technical documentation and any standards/testing address the hazards identified under GPSR. They must also maintain traceability records for six years along the supply chain.

‍Product identification and labelling

Every seasonal decoration sold in the EU must display:

• Type, batch or serial number (or equivalent unique identifier)
• Manufacturer details, including legal business name, registered trademark, full postal address and electronic contact information
• EU Authorised Representative details if the manufacturer is outside the EU

Where it is not feasible to mark the product directly, this information must appear on the packaging or accompanying documentation.

‍GPSR rules for seasonal product importers

Importers act as the safety gatekeepers for products entering the EU. As a result, their GPSR obligations include:

• Verifying that manufacturers have completed risk assessments, technical files and proper labelling before import
• Ensuring products meet general safety requirements and refusing non-compliant shipments
• Acting immediately if a safety issue arises — reporting incidents through the EU Safety Business Gateway, supplying product samples and cooperating with authorities even if the manufacturer is unresponsive

Importers must also keep documentation for at least ten years and maintain clear records of suppliers and customers for traceability.

‍GPSR responsibilities for seasonal product distributors

Distributors provide the final compliance checkpoint before seasonal decorations reach consumers. To ensure products meet GPSR rules, their duties involve:

• Checking that items carry the required markings and safety instructions in the correct languages
• Storing and transporting goods under conditions that do not compromise safety (e.g. avoiding moisture that could damage electrical decorations)
• Keeping supplier and customer records for traceability
• Reporting safety issues to manufacturers, importers and market surveillance authorities without delay

Seasonal decoration GPSR rules for online marketplaces  

Platforms selling seasonal decorations to EU consumers — such as Amazon, eBay and specialist festive marketplaces — must also meet GPSR requirements. These include:

• Registering with the Safety Gate portal
• Maintaining two points of contact (one for market authorities, one for consumers)
• Ensuring product listings contain required safety and traceability information before publication
• Reacting quickly to government orders or third-party notices by removing unsafe products and informing affected customers

‍Other EU legislation to consider

GPSR works alongside other product-specific EU laws that may apply to seasonal decorations, such as:

• Low Voltage Directive / EMC Directive for electrical decorations and lighting
• REACH Regulation for chemical content and restricted substances in paints, coatings or glitters
• Packaging and Waste Directives for sustainable disposal and recycling obligations

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and online marketplaces must ensure compliance with all applicable rules in addition to GPSR.

‍Seasonal decoration compliance services 

Hooley Brown helps companies manufacturing and selling seasonal decorations in Europe navigate the complex web of EU safety rules. Our team can:

• Act as your EU Authorised Representative, serving as the official contact point for market surveillance authorities
• Develop and maintain GPSR technical documentation, including risk assessments, safety testing reports and traceability records
• Advise on labelling and packaging requirements to ensure all mandatory information appears correctly in every market
• Support compliance with intersecting regulations such as REACH, the Low Voltage Directive and food-imitation safety standards

Don’t let regulatory hurdles dim your seasonal sales

Book a free discovery call or contact hello@hooleybrown.com to discuss how we can help your seasonal products meet every EU safety requirement.

‍This article was published in September 2025. Regulations can change. Always verify current requirements and seek professional advice for your specific situation.

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