Tag: compliance eu

Warning Labelling Requirements for Toys & Other Children’s Products in the EU

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Some toys and other children’s products require warning labels before being sold in the EU. These can be warnings that caution the owner of the product from exposing it to children under certain ages or from being used by children in the absence of adult supervision.

These warnings intend lessen certain risks that children face when using the product. For example, products that contain small parts should come with a warning that explains that the product is not suitable for children aged three and below.

In this guide, we provide several regulations that have warning label requirements, examples of warning types, and different types of products that require them. There may exist other warning types that are not mentioned in this guide.

Methodology: The examples provided in this guide are retrieved from information contained in the Toy Safety Directive, the Toy Safety Directive Explanatory Guidance Document, and the General Product Safety Regulation.
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List of Product Liability Insurance Companies in the European Union

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Manufacturers and importers selling products in the European Union are ultimately responsible for product safety and compliance. However, product safety issues can be caused by unforeseen manufacturing defects or supply chain-related issues.

In short, importers and manufacturers cannot completely eliminate the risk of safety and compliance issues, which could result in personal injury or property damage.

Should the worst happen, product liability insurance can cover some of the costs involved. In this guide, we list some of the EU’s leading product liability insurance providers, located in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and other countries in the EU.

Is product liability insurance required in the European Union?

Product liability insurance is generally voluntary. However, many retailers require that their suppliers, including European brands and importers, have product liability insurance coverage. Further, Amazon also requires sellers that reach a certain sales threshold to obtain product liability insurance.

Types of insurance providers in the European Union

Product Liability Insurance Companies

An insurance company sells insurance policies directly to the buyers. Some insurance companies also partner with brokers or agencies to sell their products. Insurance brokers or agencies market the policies issued by insurance companies. They may also offer additional services such as price comparison, consulting, or representation during a claim.

Not every insurance company offers product liability insurance. The types and coverage of product liability insurance are also different, depending on the terms specified in each policy.

Product Liability Insurance Brokers

An insurance broker is a company that represents the insurance companies to sell their insurance products. A broker helps buyers find suitable insurance products according to their needs and charges clients a commission or handling fee afterwards.
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Power Tool Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Power Tool Regulations in the European Union

Importing or manufacturing power tools for the EU market requires compliance with various regulations, directives, and safety standards.  Non-compliant power tools may pose mechanical, electrical, or other hazards to the operator – which could potentially result in severe injury or hearing damage.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the Machinery Regulation, Noise Emission in the Environment Directive, Batteries Regulation, and other compliance requirements for power tools in the European Union.

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Responsible Persons under the General Product Safety Regulation

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The General Product Safety Regulation requires that products that fall under its scope should have a responsible person who is based in the European Union.

This essentially means that an entity must be present within the EU that can be contacted by market surveillance authorities in case of compliance checks. This also impacts companies based outside the EU, that are selling to consumers located in the EU.

In this guide, we address common questions associated with the requirements for responsible persons under the General Product Safety Regulation.
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List of Products covered by the Machinery Regulation

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List of Products covered by the Machinery Regulation
The Machinery Regulation covers many different categories of machinery. Additionally, it covers a number of products that are related to machinery, such as components and chains.

In this guide, we provide examples of products for different categories of machinery. Additionally, we provide examples of harmonised standards associated with each listed product category.

Product List Creation Methodology

In this guide, we list examples of machinery products that are referred to in harmonised standards under:

a. The Machinery Directive

b. The Machinery Regulation

The Machinery Directive is effective until 20 January 2027 after which the Machinery Regulation applies.

Most of the standards that will be harmonised under the regulation are still under draft. Many of them are updated versions of standards that are harmonised under the Machinery Directive. However, some standards under the Machinery Regulation are new – for example, EN 17128 for Personal light electric vehicles (PLEV).

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Single-Use Plastics Directive: An Overview

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Single Use Plastic Straws

The Single-Use Plastics Directive contains specific requirements and prohibitions that affect the manufacturing and importation of single-use plastic products, oxo-degradable plastics products, and fishing gear. These are products that are used only once or are used for a short period before being discarded.

This guide covers the Single-Use Plastics Directive and explains how it relates to certain plastic products. Additionally, we refer to implementing measures and commission guidelines and address common questions related to the Directive.
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REACH SVHC Substance List: An Overview

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Certain chemicals are classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) under the REACH regulation. Products and mixtures containing SVHCs can be subject to reporting requirements.

This guide addresses some common questions concerning SVHCs and explores the REACH requirements affecting articles containing SVHCs. Additionally, we explain the differences between SVHCs and restricted substances under Annex XVII of REACH.
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REACH Annex XVII Substances List: An Overview

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Annex XVII of the REACH regulation sets restrictions for a wide range of substances, including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and nickel. Further, some substance restrictions are specific to certain product categories, such as textiles or childcare articles.

Keeping track of Annex XVII substances is important as you generally cannot sell products or mixtures that contain such substances above the set limits.

In this guide, we address common questions related to Annex XVII and present examples of substances that are restricted for use in consumer products. Additionally, we explain how new restrictions are added to the Annex.
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Good Manufacturing Practice in the European Union

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Good Manufacturing Practice in the European Union

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) generally refers to a set of procedures to ensure that the products you manufacture are consistently meeting the requirements of applicable regulations. In practice, this can mean different things, depending on the product and the applicable regulations.

In this guide, we cover GMP requirements found in regulations affecting different product categories from food contact materials to cosmetic products. Additionally, we cover similar requirements (like good engineering practice) found in other regulations and explain how they differ from GMP requirements.

Note that there may be other regulations that cover GMP requirements (e.g. for for medicinal products).
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Baby Stroller Regulations in the European Union: A Complete Guide

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Baby Stroller Regulations in the European Union: A Complete Guide
Importers and manufacturers of baby strollers are required to comply with requirements such as testing, documentation, and labelling. Non-compliant baby strollers may, for instance, pose mechanical, physical, and chemical hazards to children. For example, stroller parts may entrap the baby and cause an injury, and substances used in coating products and dyes may affect the child’s development.

In this guide, we explain how regulations such as the General Product Safety Regulation and REACH are relevant for baby strollers.
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