What does an authorised representative do?
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Source: Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, consolidated text of 1 July 2026.
In simple words
An authorised representative is a person or company in the EU. The manufacturer appoints it in writing. The representative does the tasks that are in this written mandate. Some duties always stay with the manufacturer.
Words in this article
- Authorised representative
- A person or company in the EU that the manufacturer appoints in writing to do certain tasks for the manufacturer.
- Manufacturer
- The company that makes the product, or has it made, and sells it under its own name or brand.
- Technical documentation
- The set of documents that show the product follows the rules. It includes the product description, the materials, the production process, test reports and the label.
- EU declaration of conformity (DoC)
- A signed document in which the manufacturer states that the product follows the rules.
- Competent national authority
- A government body in an EU country that checks if products follow the rules. It is also called a market surveillance authority.
What stays with the manufacturer?
The manufacturer must always make the product correctly, following Annexes I and II. The manufacturer must also always write the technical documentation. These duties cannot be part of the mandate.
What must the mandate allow?
At least these tasks:
- keep the declaration of conformity and the technical documentation ready for authorities for 5 years after the product is first sold in the EU;
- give an authority all information and documents that show the product follows the rules, after a reasoned request;
- work with the authority to remove risks.
In the declaration
If there is a representative, the declaration of conformity shows its name and address (Annex V).