The New CE Marking Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment (EU) 2016/425 will replace 89/686/EEC from 21st April 2018.
PPE has been required to be CE Marked since 1989, however as of April this year, a new regulation will come into place. In the meantime, Manufacturers will still be able to CE Mark PPE against the existing Directive until April 2019 and in addition, EC Type Examination Certificates issued against the old Directive will remain valid until April 2023.
The purpose of the new regulation is to bring PPE in line with the New Legislative Framework (NLF) under which many common Directives such as Low Voltage and Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) now fall. The NLF more directly outlines the responsibilities of Economic Operators and makes Risk Assessments an explicit legal requirement as well as introducing a common approach to the structure of the legislation. However there have been some subtle changes to the detail of the PPE Regulations which Manufacturers should be aware of.
Whereas certain types of equipment have moved categories, one of the more interesting changes is that equipment for private use to protect against excessive heat now falls within the scope of the Regulations – hence as of April, oven gloves for private use will need to be CE Marked.
Other changes include a compulsory maximum period for certification validity, the requirement to issue a Declaration of Conformity for each item (or at the least an internet addresses where one can be obtained) and a derogation for ‘bespoke’ PPE.
If you need any help and support with CE Marking under the new PPE Regulation, then please call us on 01564 792349.
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