Authorised representative
A natural or legal person established in the Union, appointed in writing by a manufacturer to carry out on its behalf tasks defined by the regulation that applies to the product.
What the text says
“‘Authorised representative’ means any natural or legal person established in the Union who has received a written mandate from a manufacturer to act on that manufacturer's behalf in relation to specified tasks.”
Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, Article 3, point 12
When is an authorised representative needed?
A product placed on the Union market has an economic operator established in the Union who is responsible for it (Regulation (EU) 2023/988, Article 16). The authorised representative is one of the ways to meet this requirement.
The same logic applies in the United Kingdom since it left the Union: a product sold in the United Kingdom by a manufacturer established elsewhere needs a responsible person there.
What does it do, and what does the manufacturer keep?
- It keeps the EU declaration of conformity and the technical documentation at the disposal of the authorities.
- Its name and address appear on the product, its packaging or the document that accompanies it.
- It cooperates with the surveillance authorities on any action taken to remove a hazard.
- Product design and drawing up the technical documentation remain with the manufacturer (Decision No 768/2008/EC, Annex I, Article R3).
What needs checking?
The mandate is in writing and lists the tasks entrusted. It is the list of entrusted tasks that meets the requirement. The declared address must be the one that actually appears on the label of the product sold.
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