Cheapest alternatives for consumer product safety in the UK

• UK law requires all consumer products to be safe (General Product Safety Regulations 2005).
• The lowest published price is EUR 150/year (Westwood Sourcing, EU only).
• Some providers offer one-time fees, others annual.
• Always verify what is included: testing, documentation, representation.
• REP27 — Europe Services, SE does not offer specific services for the UK.
• Sellers only via marketplace may have different obligations.

Updated 22 October 2026 · 14 sources checked

Providers compared

Prices as published on each provider's website on 22 October 2026, excluding VAT unless stated. Each row links to its source.

What UK law requires for consumer product safety

Consumer product safety in the UK is mainly governed by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR), which apply in England, Scotland, and Wales. This regulation requires all consumer products placed on the market to be safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable use (source). Companies must demonstrate compliance with safety requirements before selling products, ensuring labels and warnings are clear and complete.

• Obligation to assess product safety before market placement.
• Mandatory labeling with manufacturer or importer information, address, and safety details.
• Obligation to keep technical documentation and declaration of conformity.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 introduces strict liability for damages caused by defective products, making the producer automatically responsible for harm to persons or property (source). This means consumers can directly claim compensation from the producer or importer in case of an incident.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the national authority for product safety and cooperates with local Trading Standards for enforcement (source).

The regulation applies to producers, importers, and distributors. It is essential for anyone importing, producing, or selling consumer products in the UK to understand these rules and ensure each product is accompanied by the required documentation.

How to choose the right provider: practical criteria and comparison

Choosing a provider for representation or compliance with consumer product safety depends on several practical factors:

• Geographic coverage: some providers cover only the EU, others also the UK. For example, REP27 — Europe Services, SE covers only the EU, while Eldris offers coverage for both EU and UK.
• Type of service: check if the provider offers only legal representation or also additional services such as laboratory testing, authority request management, technical documentation support.
• Cost structure: some providers charge an annual fee (e.g., Westwood Sourcing, EAS Project), others a one-time fee (Eldris, EaseCert). The price may vary based on the number of products or product families.
• Volume and type of products: if you have many product families or large catalogs, verify if the price covers all or only part.

Table: included / not included / extra costs

Practical advice: always ask the provider for a detailed list of included services and exclusions, especially if you have specific needs such as lab testing or multilingual support.

What the price really includes: watch the details

Many providers publish only the base price, often referring to legal representation (inserting name and address on labels and documents, managing authority requests). However, full compliance may require additional services:

• Technical testing: most representation providers do not include lab tests on materials, electrical safety, or chemical compliance. These services are offered by specialized labs such as METS UK, DEKRA UK, and Bureau Veritas UK.
• Technical documentation: some providers offer storage of the declaration of conformity and technical file for 10 years (e.g., REP27 for the EU), but not all specify if this service is included or charged.
• Number of products covered: some fees cover only one product type (EAS Project), others multiple families (Euverify), and others unlimited products (REP27 in EU).
• Multilingual support: essential if selling in multiple countries, but often not included in base prices.

Always check if the published price covers all your needs. For example, if you have a large catalog or sell in multiple countries, you may have to pay extra for each new product family or for warning translations.

Many providers do not publish costs for additional services: always request a detailed quote before signing.

Hidden costs and service limits: what to ask before signing

Besides the published price, there may be hidden costs or service limits that affect your choice:

• Costs for adding products or extra families: many providers charge extra fees if the number of products or families exceeds the chosen plan limit.
• Fees for authority requests: handling requests or incidents may be included only up to a certain number of cases, then become chargeable.
• Liability limits: the provider's legal liability is often limited and does not cover direct or indirect damages caused by defective products.
• Notice for termination or provider change: some providers require formal notice to terminate the service or may apply penalties.
• Exclusions: services such as technical testing, factory audits, legal advice, or complex request management are often not included.

Summary table:

Advice: always request a copy of the contract and check clauses on additional costs, liability limits, and termination procedures.

How the appointment works step by step: operational guide

Appointing a responsible person or representative for product safety follows a standard procedure, with some variations depending on the provider:

1. Needs analysis: identify target markets (UK, EU, or both) and product types sold.
2. Provider selection: compare offers and choose the provider that best meets your needs (geographic coverage, included services, price, timing).
3. Appointment form completion: provide company data, product list, and required documentation (e.g., declaration of conformity, technical file).
4. Payment and verification: make payment as agreed (annual or one-time). Some providers issue designation within 24-48 hours.
5. Receipt of designation: receive certificate or signed appointment letter, often with QR code or public verification code.
6. Update labels and documentation: insert responsible person's data on labels, packaging, website, and technical documentation.
7. Request management: provider promptly forwards authority or consumer requests.
8. Documentation retention: keep declaration of conformity and technical file for at least 10 years.

Practical checklist:

1. Identify sales markets.
2. Verify role (producer, importer, distributor).
3. Check labels and documentation.
4. Choose and appoint provider.
5. Update all informational material.
6. Keep proof of compliance.

Risks, penalties, and what happens if non-compliant

Non-compliance with consumer product safety rules can have serious consequences:

• Product recall or blocking: authorities can order market withdrawal or import blocking if non-compliant.
• Financial penalties: in the EU, failure to appoint a responsible person can lead to fines up to EUR 10 million or 2% of global turnover. In the UK, penalties are decided by OPSS and Trading Standards.
• Civil liability: producer/importer is automatically liable for damages, death, or injuries caused by defective products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
• Legal actions: consumers can claim compensation directly from producer/importer.

Incomplete documentation, failure to appoint, or lack of compliant labels expose the company to legal and commercial risks. Even a simple unhandled request can lead to investigations or sales blocks.

Advice: ensure your chosen provider can respond promptly to authority requests and that documentation is always up to date and easily accessible.

Decision matrix: who needs what and who can avoid the service

This matrix helps quickly understand if and which service is needed based on business model and sales markets.

What providers usually don't say: limits and exclusions

• Many representation services do not include mandatory technical testing: these must be requested from specialized labs.
• Some charge extra fees for each new product family or for authority requests beyond a certain threshold.
• The provider's legal liability is often limited and does not cover damages caused by defective products.
• Incident notifications and complex request management may have additional costs.
• Notice periods for changing providers can vary and are not always immediate.
• EU representation does not cover the UK and vice versa: different providers or one covering both are needed.

Advice: always request a copy of contract terms and carefully check exclusions and liability limits.

3 practical scenarios: which obligation and solution to choose

1. USA SaaS seller: if not selling physical products, no GPSR or product responsible obligations. May need GDPR representative for EU personal data management.
2. China Amazon seller: must appoint EU (GPSR) and UK responsible person if selling in UK. Cheapest solution is Westwood Sourcing for EU (EUR 150/year) and Eldris for EU & UK (GBP 195 one-time), but always verify actual coverage.
3. UK online shop: if selling only in the UK, can use local providers like METS UK for testing and certifications. If exporting to EU, must also appoint EU responsible person via providers like REP27 or Westwood Sourcing.

These examples show how provider and service choice depends on target market and business model.