Product standards rules

The directly acting European Regulation 2016/425 and the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 deal with the basic safety requirements of most PPE, whether for use at work or elsewhere.

Under the EU Regulation, PPE must be marked to show it meets product standards for PPE. This applies not just to manufacturers, but also importers and distributors. Anyone involved in the supply and distribution chain must make sure PPE meets product standard requirements.

Now the UK has left the EU, there is a new UK product marking for goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). UKCA product marking now covers most goods which previously required the CE marking. In most cases, CE marking can still be used until 1 January 2023 (see page 158 above).