Selling non-food consumer products to EU buyers often requires an EU-based compliance contact for product safety communication and documentation readiness. For brands and manufacturers established outside the European Union, the EU Responsible Person requirement can become a barrier to smooth market entry, and the Westwood EU Authorised Representative service offers a structured route to meet GPSR 2023/988 expectations across marketplaces and direct-to-consumer sales.

What GPSR 2023/988 Means for Non-EU Manufacturers and Brands

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR 2023/988) sets general safety requirements for non-food consumer products sold in the EU and Northern Ireland. The framework aims to improve product traceability, strengthen accountability, and ensure that product safety questions can be handled quickly. When a business operates outside the EU, an EU-based representative helps connect products sold to EU consumers with a local point of contact. This requirement is widely linked to Amazon, Etsy, and eBay, but the obligation is not limited to marketplaces. Any consumer-facing sales channel that places non-food products on the EU market can trigger the same need for an EU Responsible Person.

When an EU Responsible Person Is Required

An EU Authorised Representative is typically required when a business is located outside the EU and sells non-food products to EU consumers. The need also applies when a business acts as manufacturer, brand owner, or importer that places a product on the market first. In practical terms, the requirement often appears during compliance checks, onboarding reviews, or product listing updates, especially when multiple EU countries are targeted. A clear EU Responsible Person setup reduces friction and supports smoother selling operations by providing an established compliance contact inside the EU.

Product Types Commonly Covered Under GPSR

GPSR applies broadly to non-food products sold to consumers. Common covered categories include general consumer products, toys, electronics, home deco items, stationery, jewellery, textiles, shoes and apparel, personal protective equipment, and sports and fitness items. Coverage can also extend to products sold as new, used, repaired, or reconditioned, as long as consumer sales occur. This wide scope means many e-commerce catalogues fall under GPSR without obvious warning signs, particularly in home, lifestyle, hobby, and consumer electronics segments.

Product Types Often Not Covered Under GPSR

Some product types are typically excluded from GPSR scope or handled under other regulatory frameworks. Examples commonly listed as not covered include B2B products that will not be used by consumers, cosmetics, semi-finished products, medicinal products, food, feed and petfood, living plants and animals, animal by-products, plant protection products, antiques, and broken products that are not yet repaired. Product scope checks are important because incorrect assumptions can cause delays, rework, and mismatched documentation during platform reviews.

Why EU Representation Matters Beyond Amazon, Etsy, and eBay

Marketplace compliance is a major trigger for EU Responsible Person requests, yet consumer sales outside marketplaces also matter. Direct-to-consumer stores shipping from outside the EU into EU destinations still place products into the EU consumer market. In addition, cross-border sales through niche platforms, distributor networks, or multi-channel commerce setups can face similar expectations. An EU Authorised Representative helps provide a stable compliance anchor, making it easier to handle product safety questions, reduce listing disruptions, and maintain a consistent compliance approach across multiple sales channels.

What an EU Authorised Representative Service Supports

An EU Authorised Representative service supports practical compliance readiness rather than adding complexity. Key support areas typically include an EU point of contact for product safety communication, support for adding mandatory GPSR information to product presentation, and a structured method for collecting and storing technical documentation. When an authority inquiry or platform request appears, a defined compliance workflow helps reduce response time and helps avoid last-minute document collection. This is especially valuable for catalogues with multiple SKUs, frequent updates, or seasonal product launches.

A Four-Step Setup Process That Fits E-Commerce Workflows

A simple onboarding flow helps move from service order to compliance readiness with minimal friction. Step 1: Order submission to begin the process. Step 2: Contract signature to authorise representation. Step 3: Addition of GPSR information to products, with guidance to ensure mandatory details are included in a clear format. Step 4: Upload of technical files, using a template approach or a supported preparation option. A repeatable process like this is useful for catalogue sellers because the same workflow can be applied across product families, variants, and new releases.

Technical Files and Documentation Readiness: The Area That Often Causes Delays

Technical documentation often exists, but storage tends to be fragmented across suppliers, internal folders, packaging files, test reports, manuals, and email threads. A structured upload step helps consolidate documentation into a consistent place, which improves readiness for compliance checks. Documentation discipline also supports faster handling of listing reviews and reduces stress during audits because information is already organised. For expanding brands, technical file consistency becomes a practical operational advantage, since compliance tasks do not need to interrupt daily selling activity.

Pricing That Supports Predictable Planning

A transparent price makes compliance planning easier, especially for small brands and scaling sellers. The EU Authorised Representative service shown is offered at a yearly fee of 150.00 € (tax excluded). Annual pricing supports predictable budgeting and steady coverage across product launches and catalogue updates. For many businesses, stable EU representation can be more cost-effective than dealing with repeated listing interruptions, delayed launches, or urgent documentation work triggered by platform compliance requests.

Support Signals That Matter for Compliance Communication

Compliance-related questions often require fast and clear responses. Service information that includes direct contact channels and clear business identifiers helps build confidence and simplify onboarding. Contact details include [email protected] and [email protected], plus phone +31 (0) 76 369 0668. Office location is listed as Fellenoordstraat 52 Unit 2.38, 4811TJ Breda, Netherlands, with VAT NL865927534B01 and Chamber of Commerce NL 92195873 shown as business identifiers. Clear contact structure helps reduce delays when a product listing needs an immediate compliance response.

Real-World Feedback and Why It Matters

Customer testimonials often highlight the practical value of clear guidance during complex compliance moments. Feedback shown includes comments about GPSR becoming easier to understand with consultant support, being kept up to date with compliance questions, and receiving helpful guidance during marketplace frustration. This type of feedback matters because GPSR requirements can feel unclear during early adoption, and a service built around structured steps and responsive support can reduce confusion and keep progress moving.

Conclusion: A Practical Route to Compliant EU Market Access

GPSR 2023/988 introduces broader expectations for safety, traceability, and accountability for non-food consumer products sold to EU consumers. For businesses established outside the EU, an EU Authorised Representative appointment often becomes a key requirement for legal market access and stable selling operations. A structured service that includes contract-based authorisation, GPSR information support, and technical file upload workflows helps keep compliance tasks organised and reduces disruption risk across marketplaces and direct-to-consumer channels.