What is an EU Authorized Representative?

An EU Authorized Representative (also known as European Authorized Representative or EU Rep) refers to a natural or legal person explicitly designated by a manufacturer located outside the European Economic Area (EEA, including EU and EFTA). This person or entity can fulfill specific duties required by EU directives and laws on behalf of the non-EEA manufacturer.

Which products require an EU Authorized Representative?

1. Products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA, including EU and EFTA)

2. Products falling under CE certification requirements

Relevant regulations for EU Authorized Representative:

a) According to EU legal requirements, for product traceability, CE-marked products placed on the EU market must bear the manufacturer's name and contact address. If the manufacturer is located outside the EEA, the product must also display both the manufacturer's and the EU Authorized Representative's name and contact address on the label (nameplate or packaging).

b) To ensure EU authorities can timely access the technical documentation (TCF) of CE-marked products, non-EU manufacturers must keep the latest version of technical documentation at the EU Authorized Representative's office for 10 years after the last product batch is exported.

c) In case of any product malfunction/accident/recall issues in the EU, the EU Authorized Representative should be contacted for communication, notification, and liaison with competent authorities.

How to choose an EU Authorized Representative?

a) Choose a qualified, competent professional third-party EU Authorized Representative company.

The company should be legally registered in the EU, have professional technical personnel familiar with EU regulations, help manufacturers resolve disputes, and avoid shell companies, agents, or exhibition service providers.

b) Sign a valid EU Authorized Representative agreement or contract.

The names and addresses of both parties in the contract/agreement must exactly match the manufacturer and EU Authorized Representative information on the CE-marked product's packaging/label.

Notes on appointing an EU Authorized Representative:

The EU Authorized Representative contract should be in one of the main official EU languages, typically the official language of the representative's country.

Avoid representatives without a fixed office address and contact phone number in the EU.

Avoid having distributors also serve as EU Authorized Representatives.

Avoid having friends or relatives studying in Europe serve as EU Authorized Representatives.