We have reviewed the new EU GPSR regulations and their potential implications for our gallery and artists when selling to our valued customers in the EU.
The GPSR includes transitional arrangements for products already on the market. Article 51 of the GPSR ensures that products already on the market in the EU or NI and compliant with the 2005 UK GPSR, as it applies or applied before 13 December 2024, may continue to be made available. This includes existing stock of product lines that are already on the market. Therefore, no action is required for products placed on the market in NI and the EU before 13 December 2024. These transitional arrangements cover all items in our gallery.
We do not believe that works of art—including paintings and artist prints—are consumer products under the GPSR rules and intent. These items are either unique, one-off pieces (in the case of paintings) or are sold in minimal numbers (in the case of signed prints).
As artworks are either unique or sold in very small quantities, they do not have EAN Barcodes, Serial Numbers, or Batch Numbers and therefore there is no traceability component that GPSR needs to address. As such, applying GPSR regulations to these artworks is impractical. Therefore, we take the view that the GPSR does not apply to these artworks, and they are exempt.
Original paintings and signed unframed limited-edition prints are shipped from the UK to destinations worldwide. These artworks are covered by the transitional arrangements outlined above. We will continue to monitor any updates or clarifications to the GPSR to ensure ongoing compliance while supporting our artists and customers. This includes actively reviewing changes to the regulatory framework and adapting our practices as needed to remain aligned with the regulations.
For items that may be viewed as consumer products, such as unsigned art prints and artist-designed gifts and homeware, we collaborate with two trusted partners: Prodigi and Gelato. These partners handle the production and local shipping within the EU (and other global destinations) and are responsible for ensuring compliance with the GPSR for these items.
Our working partners in the EU operate using 'white-label' packaging and delivery systems, which introduce practical limitations on the inclusion of additional product information or labelling. This reflects broader industry challenges under the current GPSR framework. We believe it is not the EU's intention to disrupt this vital industry, and we anticipate that adjustments to the GPSR regulations will be made to address these practical challenges. In the meantime, we will utilise the 'Transitional Arrangements' to maintain our EU and Northern Ireland sales. Based on our understanding of the new regulations, we believe this approach aligns with their intended purpose.
Below are the representatives for our partners:
By working with these partners, we ensure that items potentially subject to GPSR regulations meet all required standards while maintaining our focus on delivering high-quality art and related products to our customers.
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