Responsible Person (GPSR)
What is a Responsible Person (GPSR)?
A Responsible Person (GPSR) is a natural or legal person established within the European Union who is designated to fulfil specific product safety obligations on behalf of a non-EU manufacturer under Regulation (EU) 2023/988, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). In many cases, this role is fulfilled by an EU Authorised Representative, an importer, or another economic operator established in the EU.
Why It Matters
If your company is located outside the EU but sells consumer products to customers within the European Union, the GPSR requires that a responsible entity established within the EU can be held accountable for your product’s safety obligations.
This role ensures that market surveillance authorities have a point of contact within the EU for safety investigations, corrective actions, and documentation requests. Without a designated Responsible Person where required, products may be removed from online marketplaces, blocked at customs, or subject to enforcement action.
For ecommerce sellers, manufacturers, and brand owners, having a Responsible Person in place is often a condition of lawful market access under the GPSR.
Key Requirements
Who Needs a Responsible Person?
A Responsible Person under the GPSR is generally required when:
- The manufacturer is established outside the EU.
- The product is a consumer product placed or made available on the EU market.
This requirement applies under:
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 – General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)
The Responsible Person must be established in the EU and must be identified on the product or its packaging alongside the manufacturer’s details.
While obligations may vary depending on the economic operator fulfilling the role, responsibilities commonly include:
- Being identified on the product or packaging with their name and contact details
- Holding or having access to the manufacturer’s technical documentation
- Providing documentation to market surveillance authorities upon request
- Cooperating with authorities during safety investigations
- Notifying authorities of known risks or safety incidents linked to the product
- Assisting with corrective actions, product withdrawals, or recalls
Responsible Person vs. EU Authorised Representative
These terms are closely related and are often used interchangeably under the GPSR, but there are distinctions worth noting.
An EU Authorised Representative is a formally appointed role that exists across multiple EU regulations, including the EU MDR and IVDR. Under the GPSR specifically, the Responsible Person is the equivalent concept — the EU-established entity accountable for product safety compliance on behalf of the manufacturer.
In practice, the Responsible Person under GPSR is often the same entity as the Authorised Representative, but businesses operating under multiple regulatory frameworks should confirm requirements for each regulation separately.
Need GPSR compliance support?
Euverify provides EU Authorised Representative services for manufacturers and ecommerce sellers placing products on the EU market. Our team supports documentation review, regulatory communication, and ongoing compliance management.
Further Reading
