What is an EU Authorized Representative (EU AR)?

An EU Authorised Representative (EU AR) is an EU-established entity that may act on behalf of a non-EU manufacturer under a written mandate. Whether an EU-based responsible economic operator is required depends on the product, applicable EU legislation and supply chain; an importer or manufacturer may fulfil that role in some cases.

Do Amazon sellers need an EU Authorized Representative?

Not automatically. Whether an Amazon seller needs an EU-based responsible economic operator depends on the product, applicable EU legislation and supply chain. Amazon marketplace policies may request information or documents, but they do not replace EU legal obligations; product-specific assessment is required.

What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a digital record containing information about a product's materials, components, repairability, sustainability data, and certifications. Under EU Regulation 2024/1781 (ESPR — Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), DPPs will be mandatory for batteries from February 2027, and for textiles, electronics, and other categories in subsequent years.

What is GPSR and when did it come into effect?

GPSR stands for General Product Safety Regulation (EU 2023/988). It replaced the older General Product Safety Directive and came into full effect on December 13, 2024. It applies to all physical consumer products sold in the EU, including products sold through online marketplaces by non-EU sellers.

When is the battery passport mandatory in the EU?

Battery passports become mandatory in the EU from February 18, 2027, under EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542. All industrial batteries, EV batteries, and LMT batteries above 2 kWh placed on the EU market must have a Digital Product Passport (DPP) accessible via a QR code.

Do Etsy sellers need an EU Authorized Representative?

The applicable EU requirement depends on the product, applicable legislation, supply-chain role and available evidence. GPSR may be relevant for covered consumer products. A responsible economic operator may be required in some cases, while an EU-established manufacturer or importer may fulfil the applicable role. Etsy marketplace requests do not replace product-specific EU legal assessment.

What is the difference between a GPSR Responsible Person and an EU Authorized Representative?

A GPSR Responsible Person under Regulation (EU) 2023/988 and an EU Authorised Representative are distinct legal concepts. Under GPSR, the applicable role is the Responsible Person. Some marketplaces may use different terminology in their interfaces, but this does not make the legal roles equivalent.

How to Fix "Missing Economic Operator" on Etsy — GPSR Compliance Guide

If Etsy has prompted you to add an Economic Operator to your shop, or if you have seen a banner or notification about missing Economic Operator information, you are dealing with a GPSR compliance requirement that came into effect on December 13, 2024.

This guide explains what an Economic Operator is, whether you need one, and exactly how to add the information to your Etsy shop.

What Is an Economic Operator Under GPSR?

The EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR, Regulation 2023/988) defines several types of "economic operators" — entities in the supply chain that bear legal responsibility for product safety. For Etsy sellers, the most relevant type is the EU Authorised Representative: a person or company located within the European Union who acts as the official contact point for EU product safety authorities.

If you are a seller based outside the EU — for example in the United States, United Kingdom, China, or Canada — and you sell physical products to EU customers through Etsy, you are likely required to designate an EU-based Economic Operator (specifically an Authorised Representative) and disclose their details on your Etsy shop.

Does This Apply to You?

Etsy requires Economic Operator information from sellers who qualify as "traders" under the EU Digital Services Act and GPSR. You are generally considered a trader if you:

Sell products commercially (not purely as a hobby)
Are registered as a business or sole proprietorship
Sell regularly and generate income from your Etsy shop

If you are an occasional seller of handmade items for personal income, you may not qualify as a trader — but Etsy recommends consulting a legal professional if you are unsure.

How to Add an Economic Operator on Etsy

Adding Economic Operator information to your Etsy shop takes approximately 5 minutes:

Go to Etsy.com and open Shop Manager
Select Settings
Select Partners you work with
Select Add economic operator
Enter the name, address, and contact information of your EU-based Economic Operator
Select Save operator

Once saved, this information will be associated with your shop and displayed to EU customers as required by GPSR.

Note: It is not currently possible to add or edit Economic Operator information from the Etsy Seller App. You must use the full Etsy website.

What Information Do You Need?

To complete the form, you will need the following details from your EU Economic Operator:

Field	Example
Full legal name	AuraDPP s.r.o.
EU postal address	Bratislava, Slovakia, EU
Contact email address	compliance@example.eu
Contact phone (optional)	+421 XXX XXX XXX

If you do not yet have an EU Economic Operator, you will need to appoint one before you can complete this step. An EU Authorised Representative service provider can supply you with these details after you sign a service agreement.

What Happens If You Do Not Add an Economic Operator?

Etsy has stated that sellers who qualify as traders and fail to comply with GPSR requirements — including the Economic Operator disclosure — may have their listings restricted or their shop suspended for EU customers. The enforcement timeline varies, but Etsy has been actively prompting non-compliant sellers since the December 2024 GPSR deadline.

Adding GPSR Safety Information to Individual Listings

In addition to the shop-level Economic Operator, GPSR also requires product-level safety information on individual listings. Etsy has added a product safety section to the listing creation and editing flow where you can add:

Safety warnings relevant to your product
Instructions for use
The name and contact details of the manufacturer

This information must be added separately for each listing and is distinct from the shop-level Economic Operator information.

Not sure whether your Etsy shop is fully GPSR-compliant? Use the free compliance quiz on AuraDPP to get a personalised assessment.