Join Renaud Anjoran, founder of Asian manufacturing support firm Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers & people who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & SE Asia today! Listen to weekly tips drawing on his decades of manufacturing in Asia, exploration of key manufacturing concepts, and discussions with interesting guests from the industry.
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Join Renaud Anjoran, founder of Asian manufacturing support firm Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers & people who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & SE Asia today! Listen to weekly tips drawing on his decades of manufacturing in Asia, exploration of key manufacturing concepts, and discussions with interesting guests from the industry.
Who’s Responsible? EU & UK Product Compliance Explained (AR, Importers & Dropshipping) [Feat. Roberth Jonsson of 24HourAR]
China Manufacturing Decoded
36 minutes
2 weeks ago
Who’s Responsible? EU & UK Product Compliance Explained (AR, Importers & Dropshipping) [Feat. Roberth Jonsson of 24HourAR]
In episode 298, Renaud talks with Roberth Jonsson (24HourAR) about what “compliance” really means in the EU/UK. Industrial products, consumer goods, dropshipping; if you sell in the EU/UK under your own brand, you’re legally the manufacturer. That means CE testing alone won’t save you. You need the right directives/standards, a complete technical file, and (in most cases) an EU Responsible Person, often an Authorized Representative (AR).
Episode Sections:
00:00:13 – Introduction.
00:03:20 – EU compliance at a high level: directives vs standards; CE ≠ everything.
00:06:51 – Who’s the “manufacturer” legally? Private label importers beware.
00:10:16 – Testing reports vs full compliance: technical file, risk assessment, manuals.
00:12:26 – The “responsible person” & why it exists.
00:14:18 – Market Surveillance Reg (2019/1020) and GPSR expanding the scope.
00:17:41 – Importer obligations & the pain of sharing technical docs with many importers.
00:20:03 – When to appoint an Authorized Representative (AR); DTC and online sellers.
00:23:17 – Dropshipping into the EU: why customs may block you without an EU RP.
00:25:15 – EU vs UK: similar rules, separate markets; you need separate reps.
00:26:22 – “Can my cousin be the AR?” Contracts, duties, and… big risks.
00:27:13 – Coming change: Product Liability Directive will add AR liability.
00:29:19 – ESPR & Digital Product Passports; unified customs tools = tighter checks.
00:33:05 – Gatekeepers: ARs/importers get pickier as liability rises.
00:34:44 – How to contact 24HourAR.
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Check out https://www.24hour-ar.com/ and learn about Roberth
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China Manufacturing Decoded
Join Renaud Anjoran, founder of Asian manufacturing support firm Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers & people who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & SE Asia today! Listen to weekly tips drawing on his decades of manufacturing in Asia, exploration of key manufacturing concepts, and discussions with interesting guests from the industry.