Agent / Responsible person (products)
Entity established in the EU designated to assume the regulatory obligations of a foreign manufacturer for products placed on the European market.
Authorized Representative
The authorized representative (or authorized representative) is a natural or legal person established in the European Union, appointed by a manufacturer located outside the EU to fulfill on its behalf certain regulatory obligations linked to the placing of products on the market.
Obligation of responsible person
Several European regulations require that a responsible person be established in the EU for products placed on the market: the GPSR (general safety), Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (market surveillance), specific EC directives (toys, medical devices, machines, etc.) and the Cosmetics Regulation.
Role of the agent
Depending on the mandate, the authorized representative may keep and make available the technical documentation, cooperate with the market surveillance authorities, take the necessary corrective measures (recalls, withdrawals), put his name and address on the product and inform the manufacturer of non-conformities.
Who can be an agent?
Any legal or natural person established in the EU: a subsidiary of the manufacturer, an importer, a firm specializing in product compliance, or a third-party service provider.
Responsibility
The agent is legally responsible for the obligations delegated to him. He may be held responsible in the event of non-conformity of the products.
Importance for e-commerce
With the GPSR and customs reform, the responsible person obligation extends to all products sold online in the EU, including via platforms such as Amazon, Temu or AliExpress.