Importer and Distributor Obligations

The requirements don’t stop at the manufacturer, the new delegated regulation puts some onus and responsibility on the Importer too:

  • Ensure manufacturer has completed their obligations (e.g. labeling, CE Marking etc.)

  • Provide trading name, address, website etc on product, packaging or accompanying documentation

  • Ensure while under their responsibility it is stored and transported such that it doesn’t jeopardise compliance

  • Where appropriate (with regards to the risks of the product) carry out sample testing

  • Keep copies of Declaration of Conformity for 10 years

  • Take corrective actions when known to not be compliant and respond to audits

Distributor obligations are largely the same (except the need for adding trading name and details), however, if a product is placed on the market under the trading name of a distributor then they take on the responsibility of fulfilling the manufacturer obligations.

Small Print: These posts are a summary only, include my personal interpretation and are not intended to be a replacement for reading the actual rules.