{"id":374316,"date":"2025-04-16T10:24:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T10:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/?p=374316"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:30:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:30:14","slug":"gpsr-responsibilities-and-compliance-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/gpsr-responsibilities-and-compliance-requirements","title":{"rendered":"GPSR for manufacturers, importers and distributors: Key responsibilities and compliance requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selling into the EU<\/u><\/span><\/a> has gotten more challenging for businesses that aren\u2019t established in one of the member states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from requiring all economic operators to only place safe products on the Union\u2019s markets in accordance with relevant European standards, the GPSR also makes it mandatory for businesses to have a stable physical and legal presence in an EU country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, all economic operators offering consumer products on one or more EU marketplaces must be established in one of the EU member states or appoint a <\/span>responsible person<\/u><\/span><\/a> to vouch for the safety of those products.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, and distributors under the General Product Safety Regulation vary, making it challenging for businesses to determine the requirements they must meet before placing a product on an online or offline market in Europe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll help you understand the nuanced differences between different economic operators and determine your responsibilities under the GPSR.<\/span><\/p>\n

Operating on EU\u2019s marketplaces after the GPSR<\/h2>\n

\"Shipping<\/p>\n

Placing products on the Union\u2019s marketplaces has become more complex after the GPSR was enacted in December 2024.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is due to the requirement that all economic operators must be established in one of the member states or appoint an EU Responsible Person to serve as a point of contact for the consumers and market surveillance authorities regarding the safety of the products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, even sellers who offer their products through on online marketplaces like <\/span>eBay<\/u><\/span><\/a> or Amazon must ensure that a Responsible Person is available for each product to avoid account suspensions, fines, and other penalties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, regardless of their position in the supply chain, all economic operators must work toward increasing consumer protection by ensuring that their products have the necessary documentation proving compliance with the EU\u2019s product safety regulations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, the responsibilities of economic operators under the GPSR depend on their position in the supply chain, so the steps businesses must take before placing a product on the market in the EU depend on whether they\u2019re considered a manufacturer, importer, or distributor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Get our free ebook<\/u><\/span><\/a> to learn more about the GPSR and its impact on the digital marketplaces in the EU.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of economic operators<\/h2>\n

Article 3 of the GPSR document offers the following definition of an economic operator:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2018<\/span>Economic operator means the manufacturer, the authorized representative, the importer, the distributor, the fulfillment service provider, or any other natural or legal person who is subject to obligations in relation to the manufacture of products or making them available on the market in accordance with this Regulation.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In other words, anyone involved in producing, importing, or distributing products available on EU marketplaces is considered an economic operator.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that sellers on online marketplaces fall within this definition of an economic operator, and consequently, they must meet their respective <\/span>compliance obligations<\/u><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at the differences between different types of economic operators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The manufacturer<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The new product safety regulation indicates that the manufacturer can be:<\/p>\n

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\u2018\u2026any natural or legal person who manufactures a product or has a product designed or manufactured, and markets that product under that person\u2019s name or trademark.\u2019\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Manufacturers established in the EU can act as the EU Responsible Person for their products. On the other hand, manufacturers from outside the EU must appoint an authorized representative in order to continue selling their products on European markets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The importer<\/h3>\n

The GPSR defines an importer as:<\/p>\n

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‘\u2026any natural or legal person established within the Union who places a product from a third country on the Union market.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This definition indicates that an importer is an economic operator established in the EU who purchases products from non-EU countries and brings them to the Union\u2019s markets. It doesn\u2019t affect companies from one EU member state that purchase goods or services from another EU country.<\/p>\n

As a result, the importer can almost always act as an EU Responsible Person if the product\u2019s manufacturer hasn\u2019t provided one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The distributor<\/h3>\n

A broad definition indicates that a distributor can be:<\/p>\n

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\u2018any natural or legal person in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who makes a product available on the market.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hence, sellers who don\u2019t offer products they produce to consumers in the EU are considered distributors under the GPSR.<\/p>\n

An authorized representative<\/h3>\n

Businesses outside the EU cannot offer the products they manufacture or distribute on the Union\u2019s markets unless they appoint a representative established in one of the EU member states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The GPSR provides the following definition of the authorized representative:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2018…any natural or legal person established within the Union who has received a written mandate from a manufacturer to act on that manufacturer\u2019s behalf in relation to specified tasks with regard to the manufacturer\u2019s obligations under this Regulation.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Consequently, the authorized representative is a responsible economic operator, and as such, it can assume various obligations regarding compliance with product safety regulation<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, and distributors<\/h2>\n

The responsibilities of different economic operators vary depending on their position in the supply chain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick overview of the responsibilities the GPSR places on manufacturers, importers, and distributors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Responsibilities of manufacturers<\/h3>\n

The GPSR places a considerable amount of legal obligations on manufacturers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the regulation, the entity that produces a product is responsible for ensuring its safety through rigorous testing, preparing technical documentation users can easily understand, and appointing an EU Responsible Person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go through the obligations of manufacturers within the scope of the GPSR:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n