GPSR and EU authorised representative: guides & checklists

Find out whether your business needs an EU authorised representative or a GPSR responsible person, understand the responsibilities and prepare to appoint the right provider.

GPSR and EU AR at a glance

An EU authorised representative is a person or business established in the EU and appointed by a manufacturer through a written mandate for specified compliance tasks. Whether you need one depends on your product rules and supply chain. An EU importer can fulfil the Article 4 economic-operator role in relevant cases, so selling from outside the EU does not automatically mean you must appoint an AR. For consumer products, the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 has applied since 13 December 2024. It requires a responsible economic operator established in the EU, such as your importer or an authorised representative you appoint, with its name and contact details on the product, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document.

Read the Commission’s market surveillance guidance

Start with your next task

Start with applicability, clarify the role, then use the checklist to compare providers and scope your mandate.

01 / CHECK

Do you need an EU AR?

Check your product rules, sales route and existing EU economic operators.

Check the requirements →

02 / UNDERSTAND

Understand the AR’s role

Learn what a written mandate covers and where the manufacturer’s responsibilities remain.

Explore the role →

03 / CHOOSE

Choose your representative

Use the selection checklist to compare scope, document handling and authority support.

Use the checklist →

04 / COMPARE

Selling in the EU and UK?

Understand how representation requirements differ between the two markets.

Compare EU and UK roles →

GPSR and EU AR guides

Explore GPSR duties, appointment, provider selection and sector-specific duties. Packaging EPR representation is a separate role; use the comparison guides to understand the distinction.