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# Withdrawal

> A measure that prevents a product in the supply chain from being made available on the market, without seeking its return from end users.

## Definition

Withdrawal is any measure aimed at preventing a product that is in the supply chain from being
made available on the market. It stops onward supply but does not seek the return of units already
held by end users.

## Expanded Explanation

The definition is set in Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, which carries it forward from earlier product
safety law. Withdrawal acts on stock: units in warehouses, in transit, with distributors and on
retail shelves or online listings. It is the appropriate measure when a product must stop being
supplied but poses no risk that justifies retrieving units already sold.

For a passport-bearing product, withdrawal can be triggered by informational non-compliance as well
as physical non-compliance. If a required passport is absent, inaccessible or materially wrong, the
product may not be lawfully made available even though nothing about the article itself has changed.

## Why It Matters

Withdrawal is commercially disruptive but recoverable. Distinguishing it from recall matters for
proportionality, cost and communication: a withdrawal is a supply-chain instruction, a recall is a
consumer-facing event.

## Legal and Regulatory Context

Definitions and powers are in Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. Where a product-specific measure adopted
under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 sets passport requirements, failure to meet them can be the
non-compliance that triggers withdrawal once the relevant application date is reached.

## Relationship to Adjacent Concepts

Withdrawal and recall are both forms of corrective action, distinguished by whether end users are
asked to return the product.

## Common Misconceptions

#### Withdrawal and recall are interchangeable words

They are separately defined legal measures. Withdrawal addresses the supply chain; recall
addresses products already with end users.

## Related Terms

* [Recall](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/recall)
* [Corrective Action](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/corrective-action)
* [Market Surveillance Authority](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/market-surveillance-authority)
* [Market Surveillance](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/market-surveillance)

## Related Knowledge Base Articles

* [How Digital Product Passports Will Be Enforced](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/how-digital-product-passports-will-be-enforced)
* [Who Is Legally Responsible for a Digital Product Passport?](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/who-is-legally-responsible-for-a-digital-product-passport)

## Related Articles

* [Corrective Action](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/corrective-action)
* [Market Surveillance](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/market-surveillance)
* [Market Surveillance Authority](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/market-surveillance-authority)
* [Recall](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/recall)
* [Authorised Representative](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/authorised-representative)
* [Conformity Assessment](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/conformity-assessment)
* [EU Declaration of Conformity](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/eu-declaration-of-conformity)
* [Harmonised Standard](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/harmonised-standard)

## See Also

* [Regulations](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/overview)
* [Governance & Assurance](/docs/knowledge-base/compliance-frameworks/overview)

## References

* Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products:
  [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj)

## About This Article

About This Article

<dl>
  <dt>
    Last Reviewed
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2026-08-09
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Next Scheduled Review
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2027-08-09
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Article Version
  </dt>

  <dd>
    1.0
  </dd>
</dl>

tieback Knowledge is a continuously maintained reference library covering Digital Product
Passports, product traceability, product compliance and related regulations. Articles are
reviewed regularly as legislation, standards and implementation guidance evolve.

## Related Docs

* [Regulations](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/overview)
* [Digital Product Passports](/docs/knowledge-base/digital-product-passports/overview)
* [Glossary](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/overview)