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The economic operator: who is responsible for your product in the EU
Manufacturer, importer, authorized representative or fulfilment provider: the EU needs one of them inside its borders. Here is how the roles differ.
EU product law does not talk to a factory in Ohio or Shenzhen. It talks to an economic operator established in the EU. Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 requires one for CE-marked products, and the General Product Safety Regulation requires a Responsible Person for consumer products.
Who can be the economic operator
- A manufacturer established in the EU.
- An importer established in the EU who places the product on the market.
- An Authorized Representative appointed by written mandate.
- A fulfilment service provider established in the EU, if none of the above exists.
What the role includes
- Verifying that the Declaration of Conformity and the technical documentation have been drawn up.
- Keeping both available for authorities for the required period.
- Providing information and documentation to authorities on request.
- Cooperating on corrective actions and informing authorities about risks.
Why manufacturers choose an Authorized Representative
An importer who takes the role also takes the liability and often wants a say in pricing and distribution. A fulfilment provider is the fallback the law allows, not a partner who reviews documentation. The Authorized Representative is the option that keeps the manufacturer in control of its own market access while meeting the legal requirement.
How Representa handles it
- Authorized Representative and Responsible Person for CE, GPSR, EMC and RoHS obligations.
- Documentation management, risk assessments and traceability.
- Support for marketplace listings on Amazon and other platforms.