European Union

Frequently Asked Questions

Which notification or registration do I need to export to the EU?

It depends on your product group. Products of animal origin, plant products and certain foods under increased controls are checked at the border control post where they first enter; the operator responsible for the consignment gives prior notification through TRACES (Regulation (EU) 2017/625). For cosmetics, a Responsible Person in the EU is designated, a safety report is prepared and the product is notified in the CPNP before it is placed on the market (Regulation (EC) 1223/2009). Related services: TRACES, Responsible Person, CPNP, CPSR and PIF.

Is a Responsible Person in the EU mandatory for cosmetics?

Yes. Only cosmetics for which a Responsible Person within the EU has been designated may be placed on the EU market (Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Art. 4). For an imported product the importer is the Responsible Person; the importer may designate another person established in the EU by written mandate. The Responsible Person takes on the safety report, the product information file and the CPNP notification. Details on the EU Responsible Person page.

Do I have to submit the CPNP notification separately for each member state?

No. The notification is submitted once in the European Commission’s free CPNP portal and is valid for the whole EU (European Commission: CPNP). Products containing nanomaterials require one further notification. We submit the notification in our CPNP service.

In which language must the label be in the EU?

Food label information is written in a language easily understood by consumers in the member state where the product is sold; member states may require their own official languages. The 14 allergens listed in the regulation are emphasized in the ingredient list (Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Art. 15 and 21). We prepare your label in our food and cosmetic label review services.

Do I need an EORI number?

An EORI number is mandatory for every customs transaction in the EU customs territory, and a business may hold only one valid EORI number at a time (Union Customs Code, Art. 9). Businesses not established in the EU register in the member state where they will carry out their first customs transaction. We prepare the application in our EORI service.