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Media Centre >> Knowledge e-news >> Eurofins PPE Bimonthly Bulletin (July-August 2022)

Eurofins PPE Bimonthly Bulletin (July-August 2022)

EUROPE

Standards updates

The following table summarises the most recent standard updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*) Date of withdrawal: the latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

CEN
Reference	Title	*Date of withdrawal ()**	Supersedes
EN ISO 12312-1:2022	Eye and face protection - Sunglasses and related eyewear - Part 1: Sunglasses for general use (ISO 12312-1:2022)	31-01-2023	EN ISO 12312-1:2013/A1:2015 EN ISO 12312-1:2013

Conformity assessment of PPE in the UK

As of 1 July 2021, HSE and HSENI no longer assesses COVID-19 related PPE procured by the UK government, the NHS or NHS bodies. All PPE for the UK government and NHS must now be fully conformity assessed and conformity marked by PPE producers.

There is no further temporary disapplication in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland of the obligations of economic operators to ensure full conformity assessment.

Learn more about PPE Regulations in the UK:

PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS

Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX”).

Europe

RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities)

The following 11 alerts regarding Personal Protective Equipment were reported between week 25 and week 33 of 2022.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Health risk / other	7	Particle filter mask It bears a CE marking but its filtering capacity has not been tested by a relevant competent European conformity assessment body. It does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and with the European standard EN 149.
		Particle filter mask The particle/filter retention of the material is insufficient. Furthermore, the product contains erroneous indications regarding its use, reducing its protective function. It does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and with the European standard EN 149.
		Particle filter mask The particle/filter retention of the material is insufficient. It does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and with the European standard EN 149.
		Particle filter mask The particle/filter retention of the material is insufficient. Furthermore, one of the two filter layers does not provide full coverage (missing from the upper chin, cheek and lower chin area). It does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and with the European standard EN 149.
Injuries	1	Visibility vest The vest does not have a sufficient retroreflective surface. As a result, the user is not sufficiently visible in situations where high visibility is essential. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation nor with EN 1150.
	1	Motorcycle helmet The impact absorption capacity of the helmet is insufficient. In the event of an impact, users may suffer head injuries. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Regulation ECE 22-05.
	2	Safety vest The vest does not have a sufficient retroreflective surface. As a result, the user is not sufficiently visible in situations where high visibility is essential. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation nor with the European standard EN 1150.

OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts to the UK market. The following 12 alerts regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were issued between week 25 and week 33 of 2022.

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Drowning

Men’s swimsuit

The product does not provide adequate thermal protection for diving in cold water. It does not meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.

Life jacket

The products were not supplied with the required compliance documentation or markings to demonstrate that they have been adequately conformity assessed. The products do not meet the requirements of the PPE Regulation 2016/425.