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Join Renaud Anjoran, Founder & CEO of Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & Asia today!
WHO IS RENAUD?
Renaud is a French ISO 9001 & 14001 certified lead auditor, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Quality Manager who has been working in the Chinese manufacturing industry since 2005. He is the founder of the Sofeast group that has over 200 staff globally and offers services (QA, product development & engineering, project management, Supply Chain Management, product compliance, reliability testing), contract manufacturing, and 3PL fulfillment for importers and businesses who develop their own products and buyers from China & SE Asia.
WHY LISTEN?
We‘ll discuss interesting topics for anyone who develops and sources their products from Asian suppliers and will share Renaud‘s decades of manufacturing experience, as well as inviting guests from the industry to get a different viewpoint. Our goal is to help you get better results and end up with suppliers and products that exceed your expectations!
Episodes
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
In episode 298, Renaud talks with Roberth Jonsson (24HourAR) about what “compliance” really means in the EU/UK. Industrial products, consumer goods, dropshipping; if you sell in the EU/UK under your own brand, you’re legally the manufacturer. That means CE testing alone won’t save you. You need the right directives/standards, a complete technical file, and (in most cases) an EU Responsible Person, often an Authorized Representative (AR).
Episode Sections:
- 00:00:13 – Introduction.
- 00:03:20 – EU compliance at a high level: directives vs standards; CE ≠ everything.
- 00:06:51 – Who’s the “manufacturer” legally? Private label importers beware.
- 00:10:16 – Testing reports vs full compliance: technical file, risk assessment, manuals.
- 00:12:26 – The “responsible person” & why it exists.
- 00:14:18 – Market Surveillance Reg (2019/1020) and GPSR expanding the scope.
- 00:17:41 – Importer obligations & the pain of sharing technical docs with many importers.
- 00:20:03 – When to appoint an Authorized Representative (AR); DTC and online sellers.
- 00:23:17 – Dropshipping into the EU: why customs may block you without an EU RP.
- 00:25:15 – EU vs UK: similar rules, separate markets; you need separate reps.
- 00:26:22 – “Can my cousin be the AR?” Contracts, duties, and… big risks.
- 00:27:13 – Coming change: Product Liability Directive will add AR liability.
- 00:29:19 – ESPR & Digital Product Passports; unified customs tools = tighter checks.
- 00:33:05 – Gatekeepers: ARs/importers get pickier as liability rises.
- 00:34:44 – How to contact 24HourAR.
Related content...
- CE Compliance for Manufacturing in Asia: A Beginner’s Guide
- 11 Common Electronic Product Certification And Compliance Requirements
- What is the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?
- 7 Upcoming EU Product Compliance Requirements (as of 2023)
- New EU MDR: Who Are The “Economic Operators” For Imported Devices?
- We’re Buying Medical Devices From China And Are Worried Our Supplier Isn’t Legit | Disputes With Chinese Suppliers Q&A (Volume 8)
- Check out https://www.24hour-ar.com/ and learn about Roberth
- Get help from Sofeast (quality, NPD, manufacturing, audits, inspections): https://www.sofeast.com/
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