Alternatives to Providers of Product Safety Responsible Persons in the UK

• GPSR requires an EU-based Responsible Person (Art. 16) for non-EU manufacturers.
• Prices range from EUR 150/year to GBP 490/year (as of October 2026).
• Scope, product limitations, and extra fees vary significantly.
• REP27 covers all 27 EU countries plus EEA, with verifiable mandate and inquiry desk.
• Not all providers suit complex product portfolios or all sales channels.
• Marketplace and own shop sales have different compliance pitfalls.

Updated 26 October 2026 · 7 sources checked

Providers compared

Prices as published on each provider's website on 26 October 2026, excluding VAT unless stated. Each row links to its source.

What Does the Law Require? (GPSR, Article 16)

The EU Regulation 2023/988 (General Product Safety Regulation, GPSR) obliges manufacturers outside the EU selling products to consumers in the EU to appoint a Product Safety Responsible Person based in the EU. This duty applies regardless of whether sales are via own shops, marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, or TikTok Shop, or wholesalers. The Responsible Person performs key tasks:

• Article 16 GPSR: The Responsible Person must be available as a contact for authorities and consumers, keep technical documentation and declarations of conformity for each product for ten years, and respond to inquiries.
• Article 19 GPSR: They must inform authorities about accidents and risks and coordinate recalls or corrective actions if necessary.
• The Responsible Person’s details (name, address) must be permanently and visibly placed on the product, packaging, or an insert.
• For the UK market, post-Brexit similar requirements apply: a UK Responsible Person based in the United Kingdom is required.

Important: This obligation also applies to importers and traders selling products under their own name or label. Those acting only as distributors of branded products have reduced duties but must still keep certain information available.

Service Comparison: What's Included?

Providers’ services differ considerably. Key factors are whether the service covers all product types, sales channels, and countries, how mandate confirmation is handled, and what additional fees may apply. The table below highlights main differences:

Points to watch:

• Are all EU countries covered or only some?
• Is there a limit on product types or families?
• How is mandate confirmation done (e.g., verifiable certificate, QR code)?
• Are label texts and translations included?
• How quickly are inquiries from authorities or consumers forwarded?
• Is there a transfer service for existing products?

Especially for marketplace sales, a verifiable mandate (e.g., QR code, register) is crucial to prove compliance to platforms and authorities.

Decision Matrix: Who Needs What?

Whether you need a Product Safety Responsible Person depends on several factors. The matrix below helps with quick classification:

In practice: As soon as you as a non-EU company supply physical products to EU end customers, a Responsible Person service is mandatory. Dropshipping shops and print-on-demand providers are also affected if acting as manufacturers.

Process: How Ordering Works

Ordering a Product Safety Responsible Person is a multi-step process that should be carefully planned to avoid compliance gaps and delivery delays. Key steps:

1. Select provider: Compare prices, scope, product limits, and extra fees. Check if the provider suits your product types and sales channels.
2. Contact and offer: Request a quote and clarify open questions (e.g., product families, label texts, documentation requirements).
3. Sign contract/mandate: Sign the mandate. REP27 issues within 24 hours after payment and form receipt.
4. Receive label and packaging info: Get legally required details (name, address, possibly QR code) for product, packaging, and inserts. REP27 includes translations for various markets.
5. Adjust product and packaging design: Integrate details into artwork. Changes should be made before the next production batch to avoid costly corrections.
6. Provide documentation: Submit declarations of conformity and technical files to provider. These are kept for ten years and presented to authorities on request.
7. Register Responsible Person on website and marketplace: Enter details in Seller Centers (e.g., Amazon, TikTok Shop) and on your website.
8. Regular review: Update details with product changes, provider changes, or new markets. REP27 offers a transfer service for existing products.

Checklist for today:

1. Check if you as manufacturer/importer are affected.
2. Compare providers and prices.
3. Prepare product list and technical documentation.
4. Plan artwork changes for next production.
5. Ensure Responsible Person is correctly listed on all channels.

What Providers Often Don’t Say

Many providers do not openly communicate limitations, extra fees, and liability issues. Clarify these points before signing:

• Product limits: Some providers (e.g., EAS Project, Euverify) limit the number of covered product types or families. Additional products usually incur extra fees (on request if not stated).
• Extra fees: Fees may apply for later changes, additional product types, translations, or special services, often not transparently disclosed.
• Liability and responsibility: Providers’ liability is often limited to forwarding inquiries and document retention. Manufacturers remain liable for product compliance errors.
• Notice periods and contract terms: Contract durations and termination terms are rarely openly communicated. REP27 includes a transfer service ensuring seamless compliance.
• Availability and response times: Not all providers guarantee fast forwarding of authority or consumer inquiries. REP27 forwards on the same business day.
• Mandate verification: A verifiable mandate (e.g., QR code, public register) is important to prove compliance to marketplaces and authorities. Not all providers offer this.

Before signing, get written confirmation of what services are included and excluded in the price.

Risks and Penalties

Failure to appoint or incorrect listing of a Product Safety Responsible Person can have serious consequences. Authorities can ban sales of your products throughout the EU, order recalls, or impose fines. GPSR itself does not specify fixed fines, but national authorities may impose heavy penalties. Other risks:

• Customs stops: Products without correct Responsible Person are often stopped at import.
• Recalls: Responsible Person may be obliged to coordinate recalls in case of safety issues.
• Marketplace suspensions: Amazon, TikTok Shop, and others require a Responsible Person. Without it, listings may be removed immediately.
• Reputation loss: Non-compliance can lead to loss of trust among customers and partners.

Changing the Responsible Person must be carefully planned: sign the new mandate first, update marketplace and label info, then terminate the old contract. This avoids compliance gaps.

Three Realistic Scenarios

• US SaaS company: For purely digital services, no GPSR Responsible Person is required. However, an EU representative under GDPR Art. 27 may be needed if processing EU citizens’ personal data. REP27 offers this service from EUR 290/year.
• Chinese Amazon seller: A seller from China selling physical products to EU consumers must appoint an EU-based Responsible Person. This is mandatory in Amazon Seller Central. Providers like REP27, Westwood Sourcing, or EAS Project are suitable. The Responsible Person must be correctly listed on product, packaging, and Seller Center. Technical documentation must be provided.
• UK online shop shipping to EU: A UK shop continuing to sell to EU customers post-Brexit needs an EU Responsible Person for GPSR. For UK sales, a UK Responsible Person is additionally required (not covered by REP27). Details must be visible on all products and online shops. Providers like REP27 or EAS Project can cover the EU side.

These scenarios show: The Responsible Person obligation affects not only large manufacturers but also small online shops, brand owners, and importers. A suitable provider saves time, costs, and minimizes compliance risks.