What is the 'responsible person' and do I need one as a dropshipper?

The responsible person is an economic operator established in the EU who can be held accountable for product safety — for example, the importer, an authorised representative, or a fulfilment service provider. Artikel 16 of the GPSR requires that without such a person, the product may not be sold in the EU at all. For classic dropshipping with direct dispatch from China, this is the critical point. If you sell goods without a named EU responsible person, you are placing them on the market unlawfully — even if every other detail is correct. In practice, you must either appoint an authorised representative or source through an EU importer.