# EU responsible person: who can act for you and what they do

> The four kinds of EU responsible person under the GPSR, what they must check and keep, how to choose a provider, and where their details must appear.

Canonical: https://ohdock.com/en/eu-compliance/guides/eu-responsible-person/  
Updated: 2026-10-23

When a manufacturer is outside the EU, the GPSR and the Market Surveillance Regulation require an **economic operator established in the EU** to be responsible for each product. Sellers often call this person an "EU responsible person" or "EU representative".

## Who can be the responsible person

In order of priority:

1. **The manufacturer**, if it is established in the EU.
2. **An importer** established in the EU — the business that places your product on the EU market.
3. **An authorised representative** — a business in the EU you appoint in writing to act for you.
4. **A fulfilment service provider** — a business that stores, packs and ships your products in the EU, when none of the above exists.

Most non-EU sellers on marketplaces use an **authorised representative**, because they import directly to customers and have no EU importer.

## What the responsible person must do

- Check that the **EU declaration of conformity** (where one is required) and **technical documentation** exist, and keep them available for the authorities.
- Give authorities the information and documents they ask for, in a language they understand.
- Tell the authorities when they have reason to believe a product presents a risk.
- Cooperate on corrective action, such as a recall.

They are not a substitute for safe design and testing. They are the point of contact the authorities can reach inside the EU.

## Where their details must appear

The responsible person’s **name, registered trade name or mark, and contact details including postal address** must be on the product, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document — and in every online listing. The [GPSR label generator](/en/eu-compliance/gpsr-label-generator/) adds them for you.

## How to choose a provider

- **Scope**: which product categories and countries they cover, and whether they also offer packaging EPR or WEEE registration.
- **Documents**: will they review your technical documentation, or only hold it?
- **Response**: how quickly they answer authority requests and how they tell you.
- **Contract**: a written mandate that names the products, your obligations and theirs, and how either side can end it.
- **Price**: fees vary widely by number of products and categories. Compare what is included.

We can introduce you to vetted providers: [find a provider](/en/eu-compliance/find-a-provider/).

## Cosmetics are different

Cosmetics are covered by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, not the GPSR. They need a **responsible person under the Cosmetics Regulation**, who handles the product information file, safety assessment and notification in the CPNP portal.

## Sources

- [Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance, Article 4](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj)
- [Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR), Article 16](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj)
- [Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1223/oj)