Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers. If your question is not here, write to us.
What is an EU Authorized Representative?
A natural or legal person established in the EU who has a written mandate from a non-EU manufacturer to carry out specified tasks on its behalf, such as keeping the Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation available to authorities and cooperating with them.
Do manufacturers from China need an EU representative?
Yes, in most cases. Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 requires an economic operator established in the EU for products such as electrical equipment, electronics, radio equipment, toys and PPE. Since December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation extends this to consumer products in general. If you have no EU importer taking that role, you need an Authorized Representative.
What is the difference between an importer and an Authorized Representative?
An importer buys the goods and places them on the EU market in its own name, with its own legal obligations. An Authorized Representative does not buy or sell the goods: it acts for the manufacturer under a written mandate. You can sell through any distributors while ISOCONSULT acts as your representative.
Is a representative in Romania valid for sales in Germany, France or other EU countries?
Yes. The requirement is an operator established in the European Union. ISOCONSULT S.R.L. is established in Romania and can represent you for products sold anywhere in the EU.
Can ISOCONSULT issue a CE certificate?
No. CE marking is affixed by the manufacturer after the conformity assessment. For most products no third party is involved. Where a notified body is required, for example for PPE category II and III, we help you find one and check its certificate. ISOCONSULT is not a notified body.
Are test reports from Chinese laboratories accepted?
They can be, if the laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the standards tested, the standards are current, and the tested model matches your product. We check each report and tell you if additional testing is needed.
What must be printed on the label?
Depending on the product: CE marking, manufacturer name and postal address, the EU operator's name and contact details, a type, batch or serial number, and the required warnings and symbols. Consumer information must be in the language of the country of sale.
How long do you keep our documents?
10 years after the last product covered by the mandate is placed on the market, as required by EU legislation. This obligation continues even if the contract ends.
What happens if an authority contacts you?
We inform you immediately, provide the requested documents within the legal deadline, usually 10 to 15 working days, and cooperate on any corrective action. That is why we need your technical file up to date at all times.
How long does the setup take?
It depends on the quality of your documents. When the technical file is complete, the review and contract usually take about two weeks. If testing is needed, the laboratory timeline is added.
Can you be our responsible person on Amazon and other marketplaces?
Yes. Once the mandate is active, we provide the EU responsible person details required by GPSR for your online listings.
Which languages do you work in?
We work in English and Romanian. Chinese-language documents and correspondence are handled through translation.
What if a product turns out to be unsafe?
We inform you and, where the law requires it, the authorities, and we cooperate on corrective measures. If a manufacturer breaches the contract, for example by changing a product without notice, we may suspend or terminate the mandate and notify the authorities.
Selling into the EU from outside Europe?
Tell us what you make and where you sell. We reply within one business day with the documents you need and a fixed quote.