Category: European Union

Radio Equipment Directive (RED): An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) sets requirements for the safety, electromagnetic compatibility and use of the radio spectrum of radio equipment placed in the EU market. It covers devices with some sort of wireless communication capability, including WiFi, LTE, 5G, Bluetooth and GPS.

It has also been updated to cover USB standards for chargers, user data privacy protection, and software compatibility.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about the Radio Equipment Directive – including standards, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.
Continue reading Radio Equipment Directive (RED): An Essential Guide

Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Möbius Loop Symbol

The Möbius loop is a widely recognized symbol that generally indicate packaging recyclability. The requirements for using the Möbius loop symbol differ depending on whether you sell in the EU, US, or UK.

For example, some regulations – such as 16 CFR Part 260 in the US – set requirements and guidance on how to use the Möbius loop symbol. For instance, importers and manufacturers might need to provide proof of their packaging’s recyclability or qualify their recyclability claims.

In short, you should not use the Möbius loop symbol unless you have something to support it. Even then, the requirements are not always crystal clear.

In this guide, we explain the meaning of the Möbius loop symbol, and how guidance regarding its usage varies across the EU, the US, and the UK.

Note that we always refer to “packaging” because, in the official documents we could find, the provided examples usually concern packaging products (e.g. cardboard boxes or food containers).

Continue reading Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

Textiles Labelling Requirements in European Union

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

textiles labelling requirements in the European Union

Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 establishes labelling and naming requirements for textile fibre products. It mandates importers and manufacturers to specify their textile products’ fibre composition (e.g. 100% cotton), and if the product contain non-textile parts of animal origin.

In this guide, we list covered and exempted products, and explain the fibre composition requirements. We also provide an FAQ, in the second part of the article.
Continue reading Textiles Labelling Requirements in European Union

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation: An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 4 Comments

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation aims to ensure that PPE sold in the EU is safe to use and protects users from foreseeable risks. The regulation covers equipment that is designed to protect users from different risks (e.g. electric shocks or falls from heights) and in different environments (e.g. workplace or outdoor sports).

The regulation covers products ranging form sunglasses and bicycle helmets to work gloves and protective footwear.

This guide explains what importers and manufacturers must know about the PPE requirements such as harmonised standards, conformity assessments, documentation, and labelling.
Continue reading Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation: An Essential Guide

Phthalate Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 3 Comments

Phthalates are chemicals used to improve the flexibility and durability of certain plastics. Some of them have been linked to certain cancers, metabolic disorders, and male infertility. As a result, the European Union strictly regulates the usage of phthalates in consumer products.

Still, consumer products, including toys, PVC plastic products, and food packaging, might contain restricted phthalates as these are not restricted or banned in all countries. In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about phthalate restrictions in the European Union.
Continue reading Phthalate Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

General Product Safety Directive (GPSD): An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 3 Comments

All products sold in the EU must be safe for consumer to use, even if no specific directive, regulation or standard exist for the product in question. This is also the purpose of the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).

Note that, even if you sell products that are mainly covered by other regulations (e.g. electronics, which are covered by several CE marking directives) it is still possible that the GPSD still apply for some aspects, such as mechanical safety.

In this guide, we explain what producers must know about harmonised standards, documentation, labelling, and lab testing.

Continue reading General Product Safety Directive (GPSD): An Overview

Toy Safety Directive: An Essential Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 8 Comments

Toys sold in the European Union must comply with the Toy Safety Directive, which sets some of the strictest toy safety requirements in the world.

Ensuring compliance with the Toy Safety Directive requires following certain safety standards, documentation, labelling, and lab testing requirements.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about harmonised standards, technical documentation, conformity assessment procedures, CE marking, lab testing, and other requirements under the Toy Safety Directive.
Continue reading Toy Safety Directive: An Essential Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

The RoHS Directive restricts chemicals and heavy metals in electronic components, solder, and materials (e.g. casing). It applies to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) imported or manufactured in the European Union.

The requirements of the RoHS directive go beyond substance restrictions. More specifically, the directive also covers CE marking and other labelling requirements, documentation, and lab testing.
Continue reading EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS): An Essential Guide

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive: An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 1 Comment

The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive covers electric and electronic equipment that may cause electromagnetic interference with other devices, or that might be disturbed by the electromagnetic field created by other devices.

Some types of electronic devices, such as quartz watches, do not fall under the scope of the directive because they are considered “inherently benign”, in the sense that they do not interfere and are not affected by other devices.

In this guide, we cover what EU importers and manufacturers must know about the directive, including harmonised standards, labelling, documentation, and lab testing requirements.
Continue reading Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive: An Essential Guide

Low Voltage Directive (LVD): An Essential Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 1 Comment

The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) aims to ensure the safety of electrical and electronic products with an input or output voltage within a certain range. Generally speaking, the Low Voltage Directive applies to devices and their power supply units that can be plugged into the power socket. Hence, it covers both consumer electronics and AC adapters.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know concerning the directive’s safety standards, labelling, documentation, and other requirements.
Continue reading Low Voltage Directive (LVD): An Essential Guide