# The EU Authorised Representative: Who Needs One and What They Actually Do

If your company is outside the EU and you want to CE-mark products for the
European market, you are legally required to appoint an EU Authorised
Representative. This short explains the obligation, the role, and how to
choose one that won't become a liability.


## Transcript

### The legal obligation

If your company is based outside the European Union and you sell CE-marked products there, EU law requires you to appoint someone inside the EU to stand in for you. Most non-EU companies discover this obligation the first time a market surveillance authority comes asking.

### What an EU AR must do

The Authorised Representative is named on your Declaration of Conformity as the responsible party inside the EU. They hold your technical file, must produce it within ten days of a request, and forward market surveillance communications. If your company can't be reached, they're liable.

### How to choose an AR

The AR isn't a compliance consultant — they're a legal proxy assuming real liability. Choose someone who understands your product. Costs run 200 to 1,500 euros a year by risk level. A cheap AR who can't answer questions is risky.

Tags: CE marking, EU Authorised Representative, market access, EU compliance