Market surveillance

Explained

Market surveillance means the activities and measures of the authorities of the Member States to ensure that products comply with the requirements of the applicable Union harmonisation legislation and to protect the public interest that legislation covers. Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 sets the framework and powers, such as requesting documents, taking samples and withdrawing products from the market. Authorities cooperate through Safety Gate. Economic operators must provide technical documentation and declarations of conformity on request. The regulation also describes the roles of economic operators to which the GPSR refers, and online offers are covered as well. Competence depends on the country and the type of product. Keeping documents per product in one place, with versions, makes such requests easier to answer.