File 10: Responsible persons and EU representatives
The EU responsible person and the authorised representative: what each role is, how it is appointed, and what it must do.
The file guide
Working guides in this file
10Appointing a Responsible Person, Step by Step Agreeing products, duties and handover in writing before the first sale for a scented reed diffuser in a home fragrance business launching a new range: this guide explains appointing a responsible person in plain terms, shows how an appointment signed but never followed by a handover is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a scented reed diffuser findable after sale. 10Authorised Representative or Responsible Person: How to Tell Them Apart Knowing exactly which document carries each duty for a leather wallet in a leather goods maker using an EU contact: this guide explains authorised representative versus responsible person in plain terms, shows how a mandate that stays silent on a duty nobody then carries is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a leather wallet findable after sale. 10Changing a Responsible Person Without Leaving a Gap Handing the file over and confirming receipt before publishing new details for a wool throw blanket in a home textiles brand switching providers: this guide explains changing a responsible person in plain terms, shows how old details left on packaging months after the change is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a wool throw blanket findable after sale. 10Marketplace Sellers and the Responsible Person Question Checking responsible person cover before each listing goes live for a phone stand in a marketplace account selling phone accessories: this guide explains responsible persons for marketplace sellers in plain terms, shows how a listing that goes live before any appointment exists is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a phone stand findable after sale. 10Non EU Manufacturers and Their EU Responsible Person Agreeing EU based cover before the first shipment leaves for a handwoven basket in a craft exporter shipping into the EU for the first time: this guide explains responsible persons for non EU manufacturers in plain terms, shows how a freight forwarder mistaken for a responsible person is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a handwoven basket findable after sale. 10One Responsible Person Arrangement Across Several EU Countries Matching the appointment to every country where the product is sold for a linen apron in a kitchen textiles seller listing in several countries: this guide explains responsible persons across multiple EU countries in plain terms, shows how a new country listing never added to the appointment list is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a linen apron findable after sale. 10Private Label Products: Who Carries the Responsible Person Role Settling maker, brand owner and responsible person before ordering for a supermarket own brand olive oil pourer in a retailer building an own brand kitchen range: this guide explains responsible persons for private label products in plain terms, shows how a brand on the box that hides who actually made the product is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a supermarket own brand olive oil pourer findable after sale. 10Records and Communication That Keep a Responsible Person Arrangement Alive Keeping a shared file, named contacts and a note of every exchange for a cast iron teapot in a tea ware business with a long standing EU contact: this guide explains responsible person records and communication in plain terms, shows how safety information sent to a general inbox that nobody owns is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a cast iron teapot findable after sale. 10Responsible Person Contact Details That Buyers Can Actually Use Showing a monitored contact route where a reader can find it for a glass soap dispenser in a bathroom accessories range: this guide explains responsible person contact details in plain terms, shows how details printed once at launch and never checked again is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a glass soap dispenser findable after sale. 10Responsible Person Details in Customs and Import Paperwork Making customs papers and the product file tell the same story for a set of porcelain bowls in an importer preparing a first large shipment: this guide explains responsible persons and customs documentation in plain terms, shows how a customs template still carrying a previous responsible person is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a set of porcelain bowls findable after sale. 10Talking to Market Surveillance Authorities Through a Responsible Person Answering authority questions from the file, promptly and in full for a set of gardening shears in a garden tools brand answering an authority enquiry: this guide explains responsible person and market surveillance communication in plain terms, shows how an authority question answered from memory instead of from the file is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a set of gardening shears findable after sale. 10The EU Responsible Person Explained in Plain Terms Having an EU based business that holds the file and answers questions for a bamboo toothbrush set in a bathroom goods seller entering the EU market: this guide explains the EU responsible person in plain terms, shows how a responsible person who has never seen the product file is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a bamboo toothbrush set findable after sale. 10What a Responsible Person Actually Does Week to Week Keeping the file current, the contact monitored and the record complete for a stainless steel lunch tin in a lunchware brand with a growing catalogue: this guide explains responsible person duties in practice in plain terms, shows how a contact address that nobody monitors is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a stainless steel lunch tin findable after sale. 10When a Responsible Person Must Act on a Safety Issue Moving safety information fast and recording every step for a heated blanket in a winter goods brand facing its first safety report: this guide explains responsible person action on safety issues in plain terms, shows how a safety report that sits unread over a holiday weekend is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a heated blanket findable after sale. 10When There Is No Responsible Person: What Follows Stopping the gap from growing while an appointment is arranged for a set of resistance bands in a fitness goods seller that grew faster than its paperwork: this guide explains missing responsible person cover in plain terms, shows how listings that keep selling while cover is still missing is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a set of resistance bands findable after sale. 10Writing a Responsible Person Contract That Answers the Hard Questions Putting products, duties, information flow and ending in writing for a beeswax food wrap set in a sustainable kitchen brand signing its first agreement: this guide explains responsible person contracts in plain terms, shows how a template agreement copied without editing for a different product is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a beeswax food wrap set findable after sale.