Personal protective equipment
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 lays down requirements for the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE). It aims to ensure the health and safety of users and to allow the equipment to be sold and used throughout the EU.
The PPE may only be sold and used if it complies with the regulation, when properly maintained and used for its intended purpose, complies with the essential health and safety requirements of the regulation and does not endanger the health or safety of people, pets or property.
Legal act:
Regulation (EU) 2016/425
Consolidated act:
31/03/2016 (Languages available: FR, NL, SL, SV)
Scope
This Regulation contains the requirements for the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be made available on the EU market, in order to ensure protection of the health and safety of users and establish rules on the free movement of PPE in the Union.
This Regulation does not apply to PPE:
- specifically designed for use by the armed forces or in the maintenance of law and order;
- designed to be used for self-defence, with the exception of PPE intended for sporting activities;
- designed for private use to protect against:
- atmospheric conditions that are not of an extreme nature,
- damp and water during dishwashing;
- for exclusive use on seagoing vessels or aircraft that are subject to the relevant international treaties applicable in Member States;
- for head, face or eye protection of users, that is covered by Regulation No 22 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on uniform provisions concerning the approval of protective helmets and their visors for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds.
Definitions
Making available on the market means any supply of PPE for distribution or use on the Union market in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge.
Placing on the market means the first making available of PPE on the Union market.
Importer means any natural or legal person established within the Union who places PPE from a third country on the Union market.
Distributor means any natural or legal person in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who makes PPE available on the market.
Withdrawal means any measure aimed at preventing PPE in the supply chain from being made available on the market.
Article 15 - EU declaration of conformity
- The EU declaration of conformity shall state that the fulfilment of the applicable essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex II has been demonstrated.
- The EU declaration of conformity shall have the model structure set out in Annex IX, shall contain the elements specified in the relevant modules set out in Annexes IV, VI, VII and VIII and shall be continuously updated. It shall be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State in which the PPE is placed or made available on the market.
- Where PPE is subject to more than one Union act requiring an EU declaration of conformity, a single EU declaration of conformity shall be drawn up in respect of all such Union acts. That declaration shall contain the identification of the Union acts concerned, including their publication references.
- By drawing up the EU declaration of conformity, the manufacturer shall assume responsibility for the compliance of the PPE with the requirements laid down in this Regulation.
Article 16 - General principles of the CE marking
The CE marking shall be subject to the general principles set out in Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.
Article 17 - Rules and conditions for affixing the CE marking
- The CE marking shall be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the PPE. Where that is not possible or not warranted on account of the nature of the PPE, it shall be affixed to the packaging and to the documents accompanying the PPE.
- The CE marking shall be affixed before the PPE is placed on the market.
- For category III PPE, the CE marking shall be followed by the identification number of the notified body involved in the procedure set out in Annex VII or VIII. The identification number of the notified body shall be affixed by the body itself or, under its instructions, by the manufacturer or his authorised representative.
- The CE marking and, where applicable, the identification number of the notified body may be followed by a pictogram or other marking indicating the risk against which the PPE is intended to protect.
- Member States shall build upon existing mechanisms to ensure correct application of the regime governing the CE marking and shall take appropriate action in the event of improper use of that marking.
Application of the regulation
The Regulation applies from 21 April 2018, apart from certain articles dealing largely with notification bodies and procedures. These apply from 21 October 2016.
Legal acts repealed:
Directive 89/686/EEC
Previous guidelines:
PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Guidelines, 2nd Edition - April 2023
PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Guidelines - April 2018
PPE Guidelines - Guide to application of the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC - 24 August 2017
PPE Guidelines - Guide to application of the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC - 19 October 2015
Consolidated harmonised standards summary list - 11 December 2023
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2752 of 7 December 2023 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 as regards harmonised standards for mountaineering equipment, helmets for equestrian activities and gloves drafted in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council - OJ L 2023/2752 of 11 December 2023
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 of 2 May 2023 on harmonised standards for personal protective equipment drafted in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council - OJ L 125/37 of 11 May 2023
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1914 of 6 October 2022 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/668 as regards harmonised standards on personal flotation devices – buoyancy aids, lifejackets and accessories - OJ L 261/60 of 7 October 2022
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1201 of 16 July 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/668 as regards harmonised standards on hearing protectors - OJ L 259/8 of 21 July 2021
M571 Standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation - 19 November 2020
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/668 of 18 May 2020 on the harmonised standards for personal protective equipment drafted in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council - OJ L 156 of 19 May 2020
Corrigendum to Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC - OJ C 222 of 26 June 2018
Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC - OJ C 209 of 15 June 2018
M553 Standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation - 6 January 2017
Formal objection concerning EN ISO 12402-2-2020, EN ISO 12402-3-2020 and EN ISO 12402-4-2020 for lifejackets - 18 November 2020
Conformity assessment procedures for protective equipment - 10 July 2020
How to verify that medical devices and personal protective equipment - May 2020
List of standards that can help to reduce contagion (i.e. covid-19) - Article published on 23 March 2020