Compliance · GPSR + CE + national EPR
European Union
GPSR responsible person, CE marking by product directive, country-by-country packaging EPR and IOSS for low-value VAT.
Key facts
| Currency | EUR (member-state VAT rates differ) |
|---|---|
| Responsible person | EU-established person required for most consumer products under GPSR |
| Product marking | CE marking where the applicable directive requires it |
| Packaging EPR | Registration is per member state, not EU-wide |
| WEEE / batteries | Producer registration in each member state where obligated |
| VAT | Import VAT at the border; IOSS for B2C consignments up to €150 |
| Last verified | 2026-10-17 |
The responsible person is the first gate
Since 13 December 2024 the General Product Safety Regulation has required most consumer products sold to EU consumers to name an EU-established responsible person, with a postal address and email, on the product or its packaging. For a seller outside the EU this is usually a service provider or a distributor, and it is a recurring annual cost rather than a one-off filing.
The responsible person is not a substitute for the seller's own duties. It is a contact point that market surveillance can reach and a party that can be asked to act. The technical file, declaration of conformity and supplier evidence still have to exist, and the seller has to be able to produce them.
EPR is national, even when the market is single
The EU single market stops at producer responsibility. Packaging EPR is organised by member state, so a seller shipping from one warehouse to five countries can need five registrations and five sets of fees. Germany adds LUCID and a dual-system contract; France adds the UIN and Triman instructions; other states run their own registers.
Electrical and electronic equipment adds WEEE registration, and products with batteries add battery producer obligations. These are separate from packaging and from VAT. A seller who budgets for a CE test report but not for EPR has budgeted for the smallest part of the entry cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can a marketplace be my EU responsible person?
Some marketplaces offer a representative service, but the legal duty stays with the seller unless the platform explicitly accepts the role in writing. Confirm the arrangement and keep the evidence; a marketplace document check will ask for it.
Is IOSS mandatory?
No. A seller can ship without IOSS and let the buyer pay import VAT at the border, but that creates an unexpected charge and more refused parcels. IOSS is the usual route for B2C consignments up to €150.
Does CE marking cover every product?
No. CE marking applies only to product groups covered by a directive or regulation that requires it. General consumer goods outside those groups fall under GPSR and general safety law instead.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.