What's the difference between a manufacturer and a Responsible Person?
The manufacturer — your UK company — remains the original responsible person for product safety. The Responsible Person is an additional operator in your supply chain whom you must closely engage. They handle specific tasks such as documentation, regulatory communication, and post-market surveillance, but final accountability remains partly with you. Importantly: if liability arises, both you and your appointed representative can be held liable. That's why careful selection is critical. A good Responsible Person isn't a rubber stamp, but a genuine safety net for your EU business.
This question is part of our article on "EU Representative for UK Sellers: Role, Duties, Costs under GPSR". You'll find the full context and all related angles there.
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