Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 sets the common framework for market surveillance of products that are subject to EU harmonisation legislation, the acts listed in its Annex I, from toys and electrical equipment to machinery, personal protective equipment and ecodesign. Its stated objective (Article 1) is to ensure that only compliant products that meet requirements providing a high level of protection of health and safety, consumer protection and the environment are made available on the Union market. It replaced the market surveillance chapters of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, which continues to govern accreditation and the CE marking, and has applied since 16 July 2021 (Article 44).
Chapter II addresses economic operators. Article 4 requires that certain products have an economic operator established in the Union responsible for the compliance documentation and for cooperation with authorities, and Article 7 obliges all economic operators, and information society service providers, to cooperate on actions that eliminate or mitigate risks. Chapters IV to VI organise the authorities: designation of market surveillance authorities and a single liaison office per Member State (Article 10), risk-based checks (Article 11), a minimum set of investigation and enforcement powers (Article 14), corrective measures (Article 16), the handling of products presenting a serious risk and their notification through the rapid alert system (Articles 19 and 20), and mutual assistance between Member States. Chapter VII gives customs and designated authorities the powers to control products entering the Union market (Articles 25 to 28).
For manufacturers and importers, the regulation is the reason why an EU address must appear on the product, why the technical file must be available on request, and why a decision by one national authority can spread to the whole Union.