On 1 May 2004, the new Equipment and Product Safety Act cam into force. The previous Equipment Safety Act (GSG) and the Product Safety Act (ProdSG) were combined, and at the same time the EC Directive 2001/95/EC of 3 December 2001 about general product safety was incorporated into international law.

With the introduction of the new Equipment and Product Safety Act (GSPG), there are various changes to the way VDE GS Mark Licenses are granted, issued and handled. They are listed below:

1. New VDE GS Mark Licenses always have the certificate’s validity period (max. 5 years) printed on the front page. On the back page of the VDE GS Mark License certificate, you will find the following information: “The validity period of a VDE GS Mark License may be prolonged on request. In case of changes in legal and/or normative requirements, the validity period of a VDE GS Mark License may be shortened”.
   
   
2. “Foreseeable misuse” and its inherent hazard potential to the consumer are important aspects to consider when granting a VDE GS Mark License. The GPSG explicitly requires that hazards to the consumer in cases of “foreseeable misuse” be avoided. Where the product complies with the requirements of an applicable harmonized standard, it can generally be assumed that the product complies with GPSG requirements with respect to safety and health. However, in individual cases, it may be necessary to check that the product complies with legal requirements.
   
   
3. If a VDE GS Mark License is withdrawn, the responsible authority (Central Authority of the Counties for Safety – Zentralstelle der Länder für Sicherheitstechnik – ZLS) and the other certification bodies will be informed.
   The GPSG requires the manufacturer or seller to place their name and address on the product or on its packaging and provide a user’s manual in German under certain circumstances.
   
   
4. The manufacturer or the seller are required to select samples of the marketed products in order to prevent potential dangers. The VDE Testing and Certification Institute supports its clients by conducting relevant market controls.
   
   
5. The manufacturer or the seller are required to select samples of the marketed products in order to prevent potential dangers. The VDE Testing and Certification Institute supports its clients by conducting relevant market controls.