Every product sold in Europe should have an identifiable economic operator. Why?

EBPC joined 88 industry, consumer and environmental organisations in calling on the European Commission to ensure that the forthcoming European Product Act closes this accountability gap.
Responsible businesses invest heavily to meet Europe's product safety requirements - testing, audits, harmonised compliance, full traceability and Extended Producer Responsibility obligations. They do so because the rules require it. Yet, for many products sold directly into the EU, no identifiable economic operator established within the EU/EEA can be held responsible for compliance.

That creates a fundamental accountability gap.

The scale isn't marginal. An estimated 5.9 billion low-value parcels entered the EU in 2025, while independent testing has shown that 80% of toys purchased from third-party marketplace sellers failed EU safety standards.
Responsible businesses invest in compliance. Non-compliant operators exploit the enforcement gap. Consumers, compliant businesses and the integrity of the Single Market all bear the consequences.

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Every product placed on the EU market should have an identifiable economic operator established within the EU/EEA who is legally responsible for compliance. Where none exists, the platform facilitating that sale should assume that responsibility. 

 

Product safety only works when someone is accountable for meeting the rules.

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#ProductSafety #EuropeanProductAct #MarketSurveillance #ConsumerProtection #SingleMarket #eCommerce

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Suteesh Chumber

Director General - EBPC