UK Authorised Representative & Responsible Person Services
Selling products in Great Britain from outside the UK? We act as your official UK Authorised Representative and Responsible Person — so you stay compliant, stay on shelves, and stay out of trouble.
Since the UK left the EU's single market, non-UK manufacturers face a clear legal requirement: to sell certain products in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), you must appoint a UK-based representative to act on your behalf with market surveillance authorities.
This applies to businesses everywhere — including EU-based companies who now count as non-UK manufacturers for the purposes of Great Britain regulations.
FlexFrontier is a UK-registered company that provides UK Authorised Representative (UK AR) and UK Responsible Person (UKRP) services to manufacturers worldwide. We act as your official point of contact in the UK, so you can sell into the British market with confidence.
A UK Authorised Representative (UK AR) is a legal requirement for non-UK manufacturers selling products that require UKCA marking or CE marking acceptance in Great Britain. As your appointed UK AR, FlexFrontier takes on the formal responsibilities that UK law places on a representative — giving you a compliant path to market.
You need a UK Authorised Representative if you are a manufacturer based outside the United Kingdom and your products fall under UK product safety legislation that requires conformity marking. This includes:
- Electrical and electronic equipment (UKCA / CE marking)
- Machinery and industrial equipment
- Toys and children's products
- Construction products
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Radio and telecommunications equipment
- Pressure equipment
- Measuring instruments
EU-based businesses are not exempt — Brexit means Great Britain is now a separate regulatory territory, and EU companies must appoint a UK AR just like any other non-UK manufacturer.
As your UK Authorised Representative, FlexFrontier will:
- Provide our UK name and registered address for use on your product, packaging, or accompanying documentation
- Verify your UK Declaration of Conformity is correctly drawn up
- Review and retain your technical documentation for the legally required period (typically 10 years)
- Act as the official point of contact for UK market surveillance authorities (including the OPSS and Trading Standards)
- Liaise between you and UK regulators if any compliance concerns or product safety issues arise
- Support you through corrective action if a non-compliance risk is identified
- Advise on UK product labelling, marking requirements, and conformity assessment procedures
- Keep you updated on changes to UK product regulations that affect your business
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark is the UK's post-Brexit equivalent of the CE mark for Great Britain. As of August 2023, the UK Government confirmed that CE marking will continue to be recognised in Great Britain indefinitely for most product categories — meaning businesses don't need to rush UKCA re-certification. However, the need for a UK Authorised Representative with a UK address on your product documentation remains unchanged regardless of which mark you use.
Our team stays on top of all regulatory developments and will keep you informed of any changes that affect your products.
The UK Responsible Person (UKRP) is a specific mandatory role required for certain regulated product categories. While similar in concept to the UK Authorised Representative, the UKRP role carries specific obligations under distinct UK regulations and is the term used in the cosmetics sector.
UK Responsible Person for Cosmetics
Under the UK Cosmetics Regulation (retained from EU law), any cosmetic product placed on the Great Britain market must have a Responsible Person established in the UK. The Responsible Person is legally accountable for the safety and compliance of the cosmetic product.
As your UK Responsible Person for cosmetics, FlexFrontier will:
- Provide a UK address for product notifications and labelling
- Submit cosmetic product notifications to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) via the UK Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP-UK)
- Maintain the Product Information File (PIF) and ensure it is accessible to authorities
- Ensure product safety assessments and labels meet UK regulatory requirements
- Handle communications with UK cosmetic regulatory authorities
- Monitor post-market safety reporting obligations
We're not a compliance tickbox — we're a specialist trade services firm working with manufacturers across the globe to make UK market access straightforward.
- Covers both UK Authorised Representative and UK Responsible Person in one place
- Experienced across a wide range of product categories and industries
- Fast onboarding — get your UK address on documentation quickly
- Ongoing support, not just a one-off appointment
- Clear pricing, no hidden fees
- Part of a wider suite of global trade compliance services including Importer of Record and Exporter of Record
Our UK Authorised Representative and Responsible Person services cover a broad range of products and industries, including:
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Electrical and electronic equipment
- Toys and children's products
- Machinery and industrial equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Measuring instruments
- Radio and telecommunications equipment
- Construction products
- Pressure equipment
- Consumer goods requiring UKCA or CE marking
Not sure whether your product needs a UK Authorised Representative or Responsible Person? Get in touch and our team will advise you.
Yes. Since Brexit, Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) is a separate regulatory market from the EU. EU-based manufacturers must appoint a UK Authorised Representative to sell products requiring conformity marking in Great Britain, just like any other non-UK manufacturer. Northern Ireland has different rules and generally continues to follow EU regulations.
The terms are functionally similar — both are UK-based entities that act on behalf of non-UK manufacturers for regulatory purposes. 'UK Authorised Representative' is the term used in most product safety legislation covering UKCA-marked products. 'UK Responsible Person' is the specific term used in the cosmetics sector. FlexFrontier can act in both capacities depending on your product category.
In some cases, yes — but only if they are formally designated in writing by the manufacturer and are willing to take on the legal responsibilities. Many distributors and importers prefer not to take on this liability. Using a specialist service like FlexFrontier gives you a dedicated, experienced representative without relying on your commercial partners.
Your product, packaging, or accompanying documentation must display the name and UK address of your UK Authorised Representative or Responsible Person. FlexFrontier provides you with our registered UK address and company name for this purpose.
Yes. Whether you sell through your own website, Amazon, eBay, or other marketplaces, the same product safety and labelling regulations apply. Marketplaces may also independently require a UK AR address before allowing certain product listings.
We aim to onboard new clients quickly. Once the necessary agreements and documentation are in place, we can provide you with our UK address and begin acting as your representative. Contact us to discuss your timeline.