EU Responsible Person for non-EU brands
Most Responsible Person services give you a label and an address. EuroSOR imports and sells your goods in the EU, so we carry the compliance risk with you. One partner, one contract, no fragmented providers.
- EU-established importer
- EORI and OSS registered
- Article 23 VAT deferral licence
- Built by the WareIQ founders (Y Combinator S20)
What is an EU Responsible Person?
An EU Responsible Person is an economic operator established in the EU that is accountable for a product's compliance on the EU market. Under GPSR Article 16 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, a non-EU brand cannot sell consumer products in the EU without one. Their name and contact details must appear on the product and in every online listing.
Mandatory since 13 December 2024. One Responsible Person covers all 27 member states and every sales channel.
- Product
- Your product name, type and model
- Batch / serial
- Traceable identifier
- Manufacturer
- Your brand, non-EU postal address and contact
- EU Responsible Person
- EuroSOR EU postal address and electronic contact
- Warnings
- Safety information in the local language
Without an EU entity, your product stops at the label
Sales get blocked
Marketplaces delist, payment and webstore partners ask questions, and EU retail buyers won't onboard a supplier without an EU Responsible Person.
Shipments get held
Customs and market surveillance authorities can stop goods with no accountable EU operator.
Liability has no home
When an authority asks for your technical file, someone in the EU has to answer.
One Responsible Person for every sales channel
The obligation follows the product, not the platform. Wherever your goods reach EU customers, the same Responsible Person covers them.
Your own webstore
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and other D2C stores. Responsible Person details go on every product page shipped to the EU.
Selling on Shopify in the EUMarketplaces
Amazon, Bol, Zalando, Allegro, Cdiscount and TikTok Shop. Each checks Responsible Person details before your listing goes live.
Selling on EU marketplacesB2B, wholesale and retail
Distributors, wholesalers and retail chains must verify the Responsible Person before they stock your product.
Supplying EU businessesSell compliantly on channels like
One EU entity that carries the risk
A Responsible Person who never touches your goods can only forward emails. EuroSOR acts as your importer and Seller of Record, so we are legally accountable for what enters the EU market. We check your product before it ships, not after an authority asks.
How we're appointed
| Appointment | When it applies |
|---|---|
| As your importer and Seller of Record | EuroSOR imports and sells your goods in the EU. The default, and full risk coverage. See Importer of Record and Seller of Record. |
| As your authorised representative | You already have an EU importer or sell through a marketplace. Appointed by written mandate. |
What we do as your Responsible Person
| Obligation | What EuroSOR does |
|---|---|
| Documentation check | Verify your EU Declaration of Conformity, technical file and risk assessment exist before goods ship |
| Authority access | Keep documentation available to market surveillance authorities for the full retention period |
| Label and listing review | Confirm Responsible Person details on packaging, your webstore, marketplace listings and B2B product data |
| Authority liaison | Act as the single EU contact for inspections and information requests |
| Incidents and recalls | Notify authorities, coordinate corrective action and manage Safety Gate reports |
| Regulatory watch | Flag changes that affect your SKUs |
Product testing, technical and legal expertise
Some products need more than a Responsible Person. Where compliance calls for technical depth, we bring in partners from our network so you don't have to find them.
Accredited testing labs
Safety, chemical and electrical testing to the standards your category requires.
Regulatory and legal experts
Category-specific law and market-specific questions, answered by specialists.
Technical specialists
Documentation, risk assessments and conformity files prepared or reviewed.
You keep one point of contact, and EuroSOR stays accountable for the outcome.
How it works
Product review
Share SKUs, labels and documents. We confirm scope before you sign.
Appointment
Written mandate plus label-ready EU name, address and contact details.
Labels and listings
Update packaging and marketplace listings with our details.
Ongoing coverage
We handle authorities, incidents and product changes.
Responsible Person requirements by product category
The role, and the regulation behind it, changes with what you sell. Each category has its own page.
| Category | Regulation | Role required |
|---|---|---|
| General consumer products | GPSR (EU) 2023/988 | Responsible Person |
| Cosmetics | Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 | Responsible Person and CPNP notification |
| Electronics, toys, machinery | Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and CE directives | Responsible Person or authorised representative |
| Food, supplements and pet food | Regulations (EC) 178/2002 and (EU) 1169/2011 | Food business operator named on the label |
Responsible Person vs importer vs authorised representative
| Responsible Person | Importer | Authorised representative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established in the EU | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Places goods on the market | Not necessarily | Yes | No |
| Appointed by | Law or mandate | Role in the supply chain | Written mandate |
| Can act as Responsible Person | Not applicable | Yes, by default | Yes |
EuroSOR can hold all three roles, so there's no gap between who imports your goods and who answers for them.
Why brands choose EuroSOR over a label-and-address service
| Label-and-address service | EuroSOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Who carries the risk | You, from outside the EU | EuroSOR, as importer and Seller of Record |
| Product check | After listings go live | Before goods cross the border |
| Testing and technical files | You find your own lab and consultant | Through our lab and expert network |
| Customs and import VAT | Separate provider | Same engagement, with Article 23 import VAT deferral on Dutch imports |
| EU VAT and EPR | Separate providers | Same engagement |
| EU fulfilment | Not included | pan-EU delivery in 48 hours |
| Providers to manage | Four or five | One |
The rest of the EuroSOR stack
EU Responsible Person FAQ
Do I need one?
Do I need an EU Responsible Person if I only sell through my own Shopify store?
Yes. GPSR applies to every distance sale to EU consumers, not only marketplace sales. Your product pages must show the Responsible Person's name and contact details, just as your packaging must.
Do I need one if I sell B2B to EU retailers or distributors?
Yes, if the products end up with consumers or carry CE marking. EU distributors and retailers must check that the Responsible Person is identified before they sell your product, so buyers now ask for it during supplier onboarding.
Does one Responsible Person cover all my sales channels and EU countries?
Yes. One Responsible Person established in the EU covers your webstore, marketplaces and B2B sales across all 27 member states.
Can a UK company be my EU Responsible Person?
No. The Responsible Person must be established in the EU. UK entities no longer qualify.
Working with EuroSOR
Is a Responsible Person the same as an authorised representative?
Not always. An authorised representative can act as Responsible Person under a written mandate, but the importer takes the role by default.
What happens when an authority contacts you about my product?
We respond as the EU contact, provide the documentation on file and coordinate any corrective action with you. You are kept informed at every step.
Do you handle product testing and technical documentation?
Yes. Where your product needs testing, a technical file or a regulatory review, we coordinate it through our network of accredited labs, legal and technical experts under the same engagement.
Can I switch my Responsible Person to EuroSOR?
Yes. We manage the handover and label transition so coverage has no gap.
Put an EU entity behind your product
Tell us what you sell and where. We'll confirm scope in one call.