Economic Operator Definition
An economic operator is any business that makes, imports, or sells a product in the EU and is legally responsible for that product meeting EU rules. Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the term covers:
- Manufacturers, who make a product or sell it under their own name
- Authorised representatives, who act on behalf of manufacturers based outside the EU
- Importers, who bring products from outside the EU onto the EU market
- Distributors and dealers, who sell products further along the supply chain
- Fulfilment service providers, who store, pack, and ship products for other businesses
Each role has different obligations, and manufacturers carry the most. See our guide to ESPR compliance..
