Quality control and EU compliance for garden and DIY products
GardeniQ runs quality control and EU compliance for garden and DIY products as the EU importer: factory checks before ordering, sample checks, AQL inspection before shipment and the documents each product type needs, from GPSR labels to CE declarations for power tools. Most garden and tool suppliers do not publish which rules apply to their goods; we do. This page sets out what applies to power tools, electric garden machinery, pumps, lights, grills, ladders, furniture and hand tools, which documents we ask for, and what we do and do not claim.
The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has applied to consumer products since 13 December 2024, and GPSR for garden products means the same importer, label and listing duties as for any other category. CE marking for power tools rests on the manufacturer’s EU declaration of conformity. EN standards are a basis for requesting data, not a statement that a product is certified. We check what exists for your exact model and tell you before you order. This is not legal advice.
Quality control steps for every order
Factory check
Before ordering: licence, capacity, export experience and the declarations and reports the factory can show.
Samples
Materials, dimensions, function, voltage and plug, and workmanship against your specification.
Inspection before shipment
AQL sampling of finished goods: quantity, appearance, function, rating plates, packaging and labels.
Documents
Declarations of conformity, test reports where they exist or are ordered, manuals, labels and traceability data.
GPSR, CE and other EU rules by product type
| Product type | What applies or serves as a reference | What we ask for |
|---|---|---|
| All consumer products | GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988: EU economic operator, name, postal and e-mail address on product or packaging, type or batch, warnings and instructions in the language of sale; the same data in online listings | Label with manufacturer, importer and batch or type number; safety information in your languages |
| Power tools and electric garden machinery | CE under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, replaced by the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 from 20 January 2027; EMC 2014/30/EU; RoHS 2011/65/EU; Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU for mains products where it applies | Manufacturer’s EU declaration of conformity for the exact model and voltage; manual with vibration and noise values |
| Mowers, grass and hedge trimmers | Outdoor noise Directive 2000/14/EC: guaranteed sound power level on the product, in addition to the CE rules above | Noise declaration and the marked sound power level |
| Pumps, timers and other electrical garden equipment | CE as for electrical machinery (Machinery, EMC, RoHS, LVD for mains); WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU with producer registration in each country of sale | Declaration of conformity, IP rating, cable and plug data; weights for WEEE reporting |
| Garden, solar and mains lighting | CE: LVD for mains voltage, EMC, RoHS; ecodesign and energy-labelling rules for light sources, checked per model; WEEE | Declaration of conformity; light output only as stated by the manufacturer |
| Cordless tools, battery packs, solar lights | Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542: producer registration in each country of sale, collection marking and information; replaceability rules for portable batteries from February 2027; UN 38.3 for transport | Battery type, capacity and chemistry, UN 38.3 summary, marking on pack and packaging |
| Gas grills and gas planchas | Gas Appliances Regulation (EU) 2016/426: sold only with the manufacturer’s EU type-examination and declaration; gas category and connection must match the destination country | EU type-examination certificate and declaration checked before any order |
| Grill grates, griddles, pans, tongs, skewers | Food contact: Regulation (EC) 1935/2004; Regulation (EU) 10/2011 for plastic parts | Manufacturer’s declaration of compliance and migration reports where available |
| Ladders | EN 131 as the reference for portable ladders; we list only ladders where the supplier states EN 131. National marks only where a report exists | EN 131 test data, class, maximum load and height per model |
| Hoses, grips, gloves, textiles | REACH: PAH limits in rubber and plastic parts in contact with skin, phthalates and lead in PVC, SVHC information duty. Garden gloves only as minimal-risk PPE category I under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Textile fibre labelling under Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 for hammocks and cushion covers | Supplier’s REACH statement, material data, fibre composition |
| Sockets, switches, power strips | National plug and socket standards (such as Schuko) and safety requirements, checked per model | Data for the exact model; no certification claims without a report |
| Packaging | Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40, applying from August 2026; EPR registration by country (LUCID in Germany, BDO in Poland, Triman and EPR in France) | Packaging weights by material for your markets |
This is not legal advice. Standards are paid documents, and some points above are our own reading. We check them for each order, and suggest you confirm them with your adviser or a laboratory.
Documents you receive with an order
- GPSR label with manufacturer, importer and EU address
- Manuals, safety and usage information in your languages
- Batch or order number for traceability
- CE declaration of conformity for power tools, pumps and lights
- Food-contact declarations for grill parts and battery data for cordless products
- Inspection report with photos before shipment
Frequently asked questions
Who puts the CE mark on imported power tools?
The manufacturer, based on its EU declaration of conformity. As importer, GardeniQ checks that the declaration exists for the exact model, that the CE marking and our details are on the product and that the manual is in the right languages. We do not issue CE ourselves.
What changes in January 2027 for power tools and garden machinery?
The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces the Machinery Directive from 20 January 2027. Goods placed on the market from that date need declarations under the new regulation, so we ask suppliers which version their declaration refers to.
Who is the EU responsible person for garden products under GPSR?
When you buy from GardeniQ, EnjoyGroup Sp. z o.o. in Poland is the importer and the EU address on the label. If you import yourself, you need an EU economic operator for the product.
Who registers under WEEE and the Batteries Regulation?
Whoever places the product on the market in that country, because registration is national, for example with stiftung ear in Germany. When we deliver to you in another country, that is usually you; we explain which registrations apply and provide the data.
What changes in compliance when I sell under my own brand?
You become the manufacturer in the legal sense: a company selling under its own name or brand is treated as the manufacturer under GPSR and the CE rules. We are still the importer, and we set out who does what in the contract.
Does GardeniQ have its own testing laboratory?
No. Where tests are needed, we order them from accredited external laboratories and the cost is shown in the offer. Pre-shipment inspections follow AQL sampling (ISO 2859-1), with limits agreed per product.
What must a GPSR label on garden products show?
The EU economic operator’s name, postal and e-mail address, the type or batch number, and warnings and instructions in the language of the country of sale. GardeniQ puts its importer details on the product or packaging, and the same data must appear in online listings.
Send us your product list
Links, photos, a planogram or a spreadsheet are enough. GardeniQ replies within 2 working days with delivered prices, minimums, lead times and the documents available for each product.
Request a quote
Send a product list, links or photos. We reply with prices delivered to your country, minimum quantities and lead times.
- Reply on working days, usually within a few hours
- Prices delivered to your door, customs and VAT included in the calculation
- Written offer within 2 working days