On July 16, 2021, a new EU Regulation on product safety (called the “Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020”) is coming into effect. This new regulation adds the requirement for CE-marked products to have someone present in the European Union acting as the point of contact for product compliance (a “Responsible Person”).
This page outlines what is changing and offers some guidance on what you can do to prepare for the changes. This material is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. We encourage you to consult your legal counsel if you have questions about the laws and regulations concerning your products.
If you sell CE-marked products that are manufactured outside of the EU, you will need to ensure that such products have a Responsible Person in the EU prior to July 16, 2021. After July 16, 2021, it will be illegal to sell CE-marked products in the EU without an EU Responsible Person.
Prior to July 16, 2021, you will need to ensure that your CE-marked products are labelled with the contact information of the Responsible Person. This labelling can be done on the product, its packaging, the parcel, or an accompanying document.
The first step is to confirm that your products are subject to CE-marking legislation. Common examples of products that are required to be CE-marked include toys, electronics, personal protective equipment, machinery, construction products, gas appliances, recreational and personal watercraft, pressure vessels, and measuring equipment. All CE-marked products are covered by this rule except for medical devices, explosives for civil uses, and certain lifts and cableway installations.
If you are unsure if the products you sell are required to be CE-marked, we recommend that you reach out to your supplier/legal counsel to investigate further.
If you are the brand owner of CE-marked products (other than medical devices, explosives for civil uses, and certain lifts and cableway installations), we recommend that you take the following steps:
Yes. Amazon need to collect the contact information of the Responsible Person for non-EU brands/ASINs using Amazon’s FBA service. Amazon has enabled a dashboard in Seller Central to allow you to declare your EU Responsible Person for your brand/ASINs.
Please visit this page to learn more about completing your Responsible Person information.
When you access the dashboard, the CE-marked ASINs you sell will be listed. We encourage you to review them and ensure there is a Responsible Person for each ASIN sold by you. Please note that any Responsible Person Information you add for these ASINs is specific for units sold by you.
If your products do not have a Responsible Person, we recommend talking with your upstream suppliers to confirm they are aware of the upcoming changes and to ensure they are taking appropriate actions to appoint a Responsible Person.
An EU Responsible Person can be one of the following:
The Responsible Person is required to do the following:
In addition, the contact information of the Responsible Person is required to be displayed on the product or on its packaging, the parcel, or an accompanying document.
Yes, Amazon offers a Responsible Person Service for non-EU manufacturers, brand owners, and authorized resellers (i.e., authorized by the Brand to sell in the EU) using Fulfilment by Amazon. For details on eligibility, pricing and terms and conditions, please visit this page.
The EU Regulation 2019/1020 on Market Surveillance and Compliance of Products, published on June 20, 2019, sets out a framework aimed at increasing accountability for product safety and technical compliance, as well as enforcement of technical compliance breaches.
We strongly encourage you to visit the European Commission’s website for more information on EU Regulation 2019/1020 on Market Surveillance and Compliance of Products: