Summary
Import means bringing products from another country to sell. Parallel import is when a product is bought in one country and sold in another without the manufacturer’s permission, usually within the same region (like the EU). It becomes sensitive when products come from other regions (e.g. North America or Asia), as regulations and product versions may differ.
As a reseller, it is your responsibility to ensure that the product complies with all requirements of the market in which it is being sold.
- CE marking The product must have the CE marking, as required by EU law. It must be affixed to the product and its packaging in a way that is visible, legible, and permanent.
- Comply with applicable EU directives: LVD/EMC/RED, plus RoHS, Ecodesign, and Energy Labelling.
- Power: include a Nordic-compatible charger (Type F Schuko) when an adapter is required.
- Connectivity (phones/tablets/smart watches): devices must be unlocked, support Nordic 4G/5G bands, comply with SAR limits, and have regional services (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) fully functional.
- Warranty & support: honor the 2-year EU legal guarantee, provide local-language support, and meet Right to Repair obligations (spare parts/info availability). If the product is imported from outside the EU, you—the merchant—are responsible for warranty and support.
- Product pages (PDP) must clearly state warranty terms, energy labels (where required), and any regional limitations; ensure software updates and features function in the Nordics.
- Ready to use: the product is expected to work straight out of the box. If any local modifications are required for the product to function properly (e.g., changing regional settings or updating firmware), this is not acceptable.
- Packaging: The packaging in imports must meet local language, labeling, and consumer safety requirements. Deficiencies in these areas may result in the product being banned from sale, cause consumer dissatisfaction or lead to legal consequences for the importer.
- Manual & Instructions: In the case of import/parallel import, manuals and instructions must be carefully checked – in terms of language, content, and compliance with local regulations. Otherwise, it may lead to legal issues and safety risks.
Merchant Guidelines: Selling Electronic Products in the Nordic Market
Introduction:
As a leading Nordic marketplace for electronics, we are committed to a safe, transparent, and legally compliant platform. All electronic products must meet EU regulations and national laws in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.
This includes product requirements related to safety, packaging, and user manuals.
This guide outlines the key requirements for listing electronics. Merchants are fully responsible for legal and policy compliance. Non-compliance may lead to account suspension or legal action.
Section 1: General Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance
1.1. The CE Marking
The CE mark is a required label for many products sold in the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes all EU and Nordic countries. When the manufacturer or importer puts the CE mark on a product, it means the product meets all EU rules for health, safety, and environmental protection. You can read more about this and other labels in our Help Center under the section Marking and Instructions.
Your Obligations:
Mandatory Marking: All electronic products listed on our platform must have the CE mark when required by EU law. Visible, Legible, and Permanent: The CE mark must be clearly visible, easy to read, and permanently placed on the product, its packaging, or an accompanying document.
EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC): You must be able to provide the EU Declaration of Conformity for any listed product upon request by our Compliance team or national market authorities. This document is a legal statement from the manufacturer confirming that the product complies with all relevant EU directives.
Technical Documentation: You must keep a technical file for each product for at least 10 years after it’s last sold; this file is a collection of documents like design details, test reports, and risk assessments that prove the product meets all regulatory requirements.
Responsible Person: For products made outside the EU, you need to have a designated Responsible Person based in the EU listed on the product or its packaging. The Responsible Person is someone who ensures the product meets EU rules and acts as a contact for authorities if needed.
1.2. Key EU Directives for Electronic Products
Your products must comply with the following key directives:
Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU: Applies to electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1,000 V for AC and 75 and 1,500 V for DC.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU: Ensures that electronic equipment does not generate or is not affected by electromagnetic interference.
Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU: Applies to all products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for communication or radio determination (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G devices).
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU: Restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Eco-design Directive 2009/125/EC and Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369: Your product may need to be accompanied by a valid energy efficiency label and comply with specific eco-design requirements.
Section 2: Market-Specific and Consumer-Oriented Requirements
2.1. Localization and Functionality
Language: All product manuals, user guides, and on-screen display (OSD) languages must include Nordic languages (Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish) and English.
Power/Charging Adapters: All devices that require an external power source must include a charging adapter compatible with the Nordic outlets (Type F or "Schuko" plug).
Network Compatibility: For mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, and other devices with network capabilities (LTE, 5G), the device must be unlocked and fully compatible with the 4G/5G bands used by operators in the Nordic region.
Software and Regional Services: Products must be functional and customized for the Nordic market. This includes:
- Pre-installed apps and services must be operational in the region.
- Mobile payment services (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) must be fully functional.
- Regional settings, such as date, time, and currency, should be available.
2.2. Warranty, Support, and Right to Repair
Legal Guarantee: Under EU law, consumers have a legal guarantee of at least two years from the date of delivery. This guarantee covers any lack of conformity that exists at the time of delivery. You, as the seller, are responsible for honoring this guarantee.
Manufacturer's Warranty: If a manufacturer offers a commercial warranty, the terms must be clearly stated on the product page and in the product documentation.
Customer Support: You must provide accessible and responsive customer support in the local language(s) for all products you sell.
Right to Repair: The EU's "Right to Repair" initiatives mean that spare parts and repair information for certain products must be available to end-users and repairers for a set period. Merchants are responsible for ensuring that their products meet these new requirements.
Section 3: Environmental and Waste Management Obligations
3.1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach under which producers are financially and operationally responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive: You must be registered with the relevant WEEE compliance scheme in each Nordic country where you sell products. This ensures that a collection and recycling system is in place for your electronic products.
Battery Directive: You must be registered with the relevant battery compliance scheme for batteries sold separately or contained within your products.
Packaging Waste: You must also be registered with a packaging compliance scheme in the relevant countries to manage the recycling of your product packaging.
3.2. Product Documentation and Labeling
In addition to the CE mark, your products must have the following:
WEEE Symbol: The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol must be clearly visible on the product.
Chemical and Substance Information: You must comply with all chemical regulations (e.g., REACH) and provide customers with information about any hazardous substances contained in the product, where required.
Country of Origin: The product packaging or label must clearly state the country of origin.
Section 4: Mobile phones, Tablets and Smart Watches for the Nordic Markets
Smartphones, Tablets and Smartwatches marketed in Europe, and specifically in the Nordic region, must comply with the following points and requirements:
Network Compatibility: Smartphones with global variants must be unlocked to operate with different operators in the Nordic/EU region.
LTE and 5G Bands: Mobile phones must support 4G and 5G bands to ensure efficient data speeds and coverage across different areas.
Software and Customization: Devices must be customized for the Nordic regions, including pre-installed apps, localized software features, and local language settings.
Regulatory and Legal Requirements: Smartphones must adhere to European regulatory standards, such as SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) limits for radio frequency exposure.
Charging Adapters: Devices need to include charging adapters compatible with Nordic outlets.
Frequency of Updates: There may be differences in the frequency and timing of software updates due to carrier testing, regional policies, and other factors.
Warranty and Support: Warranty terms and customer support might differ between regions due to regional consumer protection laws and manufacturer policies.
Mobile Payment Services: Services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay must be operational and available for the Nordic markets.
Language and Localization: Smartphones must offer Nordic languages and English as options, along with localized settings for the Nordic region.
Access to Services and Apps: Availability and functionality of certain services, apps, or content should be ensured for the Nordic/EU markets.
CE Marking: The CE mark indicates that the product complies with relevant EU legislation, affirmed by the manufacturer or importer.
Section 5 : Packaging, Manuals and instructions
Language Requirements on Packaging: In many countries, certain information on the packaging (e.g., user instructions, warnings, ingredients, or technical specifications) must be provided in the local language.
Imported products may have packaging in the wrong language, which can make the product illegal to sell or difficult for consumers to understand.
Legally Required Labeling: The packaging may need to include specific markings depending on the product type, such as:
- CE marking
- Age restrictions
- Recycling symbols
- Nutritional information (for food)
- Energy labeling (for electronics)
- If the parallel-imported product lacks such labeling, it may be illegal to sell.
Market Adaptation: The design and messaging on the packaging are often tailored for a specific market - imported product packaging may result in branding, promotions, or warranty terms that do not align with the rules or expectations in the importing country.
Damage and Repackaging: Some importers repackage products to add translations or meet legal requirements - this may affect:
- The condition of the product
- Warranty coverage
- Consumer trust
- Some manufacturers consider unauthorized repackaging a violation of trademark rights.
5:1 Manual & instructions:
Language Requirements: In many countries (including Sweden), it is a legal requirement that manuals and safety instructions are provided in the national language. Imported products may lack translated instructions, which violates these regulations. The minimum requirements are: the local language and English.
Content Differences: Instructions may be tailored to the technical specifications of the country of origin, such as electrical standards, usage environment, or safety levels. This can make the instructions irrelevant or misleading for users in the importing country.
Safety Risks: Incomplete or incorrect information in manuals can lead to misuse, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.
Regulatory Compliance:
According to EU product legislation (e.g., the Machinery Directive or the Low Voltage Directive), manuals must be correctly translated and adapted.
Closing remarks
Your responsibility
The importer is often responsible for ensuring that the documentation complies with local requirements. This guide is intended to help you navigate the main obligations and point you in the right direction, but it does not replace your full responsibility as the importer or producer.
It is your obligation as the responsible party to ensure that any product you place on the market fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations in that market, including the product’s condition, packaging, labeling, documentation, and any modifications made prior to sale. Ultimately, you are fully accountable for the final product and how it is presented and sold.
In the event of a regulatory inspection or official request, you are also obligated to provide us with relevant and complete product information that clearly demonstrates compliance with the legal requirements in each respective market.
Please also note that regulatory requirements may change over time. Staying informed and up to date with the latest rules is a continuous responsibility that rests with you.
Please note that if the requested documentation cannot be provided, if the product does not meet customer expectations regarding packaging, manual/instruction, quality and product safety, or fails to meet our compliance requirements, we reserve the right to consider the products non-approved. In such cases, affected customers may be entitled to a full refund, and further actions may be taken in line with our platform’s rules and guidelines.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss any points from this guide, please feel free to contact the CDON Compliance department for support.