| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2014) 186 final (27.03.14) |
| Publication Date | 27/03/2014 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Directive 89/686/EEC on personal protective equipment (PPE Directive) was adopted on 21 December 1989 and became fully applicable as from 1 July 1995. The Directive ensures the free movement of personal protective equipment (PPE). It has contributed considerably to the completion and operation of the Single Market with regard to PPE. It permits the free movement of PPE covered by its scope in Europe while ensuring a high level of protection for its user. The PPE Directive sets out basic requirements, that PPE must comply with in order to be made available on the EU market. PPE must be designed and manufactured in compliance with the provisions of the Directive. Manufacturers must also affix the CE marking and provide users with instructions for storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, servicing and disinfection of the PPE. The PPE Directive is based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and is one of the first harmonisation Directives based on the “New Approach” principles, according to which manufacturers must ensure compliance of their products with the essential health and safety requirements provided for in the legislative instrument. The essential requirements are performance based, without imposing specific technical solutions or specifications. The PPE Directive applies to PPE that is defined as “any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards”. It also covers “interchangeable PPE components which are essential to its satisfactory functioning and used exclusively for such equipment” and “any system placed on the market in conjunction with PPE for its connection to another external, additional device”. Examples of PPE are safety helmets, ear muffs, safety shoes, life jackets but also bicycle helmets, sunglasses and high-visibility vests. Certain types of PPE are excluded from the scope of the PPE Directive, namely PPE specifically designed and manufactured for use by armed forces or in the maintenance of law and order, PPE for self-defence, PPE designed and manufactured for private use against atmospheric conditions, damp, water and heat, PPE intended for the protection or rescue of persons on vessels or aircraft, not worn all the time and helmets and visors intended for users of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles. While the directive has successfully achieved its objectives in creating a single market and ensuring a high level of protection for users of PPE, certain problems have been encountered in its implementation. These concern products on the market that do not ensure an adequate level of protection, diverging approaches of the notified bodies, the effectiveness of the market surveillance as well as risks related to protective equipment which is currently not covered by the PPE Directive. Furthermore some provisions of the PPE Directive should be made clearer and simpler. This proposal intends to replace Directive 89/686/EEC on personal protective equipment by a Regulation, in line with the Commission’s simplification objectives. See also Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cableway installations |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2014:186:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Internal Markets |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
