It will become effective 24 months after coming into force and will then be mandatory for all EU member states, the Hohenstein Institute reports.

Prototype testing

In its capacity as Notified Body EU No. 0555, the Hohenstein Institute carries out prototype testing in accordance with the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC.

The new legal requirements will be taken into account in the internal processes and procedures of its certification centre. This means that the experts at Hohenstein will still be able to offer their usual service with regard to personal protective equipment in future.

New regulations

Unlike the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC, the new regulations do not need to be implemented in national law. Once approved by the EU Commission, they pass directly into the effective law of the EU member states.

Until now, PPE has only been allowed to be sold in the European Economic Area if it complies with the requirements of the Directive 89/686/EEC. Supplying PPE that complies with this directive cannot be prevented for a period of 36 months after the new PPE regulations come into force.

EC type-examination certificates that have already been issued may remain valid for seven years after the regulations come into force, provided those EC type-examination certificates do not become invalid for any other reason.

www.hohenstein.de