Eurofins PPE Monthly Bulletin (April - June 2025)
Update to harmonised standards for PPE
On 16 May 2025, the European Commission published the Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/895 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 as regards the harmonised standards for hearing protectors, personal fall protection equipment, mountaineering equipment, knee protectors, protective clothing against tick bites and electrically insulating helmets, drafted in support of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 is amended as follows:
- Rows 21,31,67 and 175 have been deleted
- The following rows have been inserted in sequential order:
|
No. |
Reference of standard |
|
21a |
EN 352-2:2020+A1:2024 Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 2: Earplugs Notice: This standard does not require labelling indicating the noise attenuation level on the product. Compliance with this standard therefore does not confer a presumption of conformity with point 3.5., second paragraph of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2016/425. |
|
31a |
EN 353-2:2024 Personal fall protection equipment – Part 2: Guided type fall arresters including a flexible anchor line |
|
67a |
EN 958:2024 Mountaineering equipment – Energy absorbing systems for use in klettersteig (via ferrata) climbing – Safety requirements and test methods |
|
147a |
EN 14404-2:2024 Personal protective equipment – Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position – Part 2: Requirements for wearable knee protectors (type 1) |
|
147b |
EN 14404-3:2024 Personal protective equipment – Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position – Part 3: Requirements for the individual combination of knee pads and garments (type 2) Notice: In addition to clauses 5.5.1.1, 5.5.1.2, 5.5.5.1 and 5.5.5.2, compliance with clause 5.5.1.3 is also necessary to confer a presumption of conformity with essential requirements in point 1.3.1. of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2016/425. |
|
147c |
EN 14404-4:2024 Personal protective equipment – Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position – Part 4: Requirements for the combination of interoperable knee pads and garments (type 2) |
|
147d |
EN 14404-6:2024 Personal protective equipment – Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position – Part 6: Requirements for kneeling systems (type 4) |
|
175a |
EN 17109:2020+A1:2024 Mountaineering equipment – Individual safety systems for rope courses – Safety requirements and test methods |
|
177a |
EN 17487:2024 Protective clothing – Garments with permethrin as-treated articles supporting the protection against tick bites |
- Row 189.I is replaced by the following:
|
189.I |
EN 50365:2023 Live Working – Electrically insulating helmets for use on low and medium voltage installations EN 50365:2023/AC:2024-09. |
The table below 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 a European Norm (EN) (and Harmonisation Document (HD) for the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC)) must be withdrawn.
|
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN)/CENELEC |
|||
|
Reference |
Title |
Date of withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
|
Eye and face protection for occupational use - Part 1: General requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO 16321-1:2021/Amd 1:2024) |
31 March 2028 |
|
|
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source Safety Gate (RAPEX)).
Safety Gate (RAPEX) (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following 6 alerts regarding protective equipment were reported between week 12 and week 19 of 2025.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Drowning |
1 |
Swimming aid Warning symbols on the product are not explained in the user instructions leading to the buoyancy aid not being securely fitted to the child. Additionally, the product is not well visible. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and EN 13138-1. |
|
2 |
Lifejacket The inflation system does not work sufficiently. In automatic inflation mode, immersion of the trigger device in salt water at a temperature of -1 °C might not trigger inflation. The product does not comply with the Personal Protection Equipment Regulation and EN 12402-3. |
|
|
Injuries |
1 |
Climbing harness An inherent material and/or construction issue can lead to material degradation and cause failure of the product. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and EN 12277.
|
|
1 |
Safety cord The cord does not support the required load which could result in the cord breaking. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation, EN 354, EN 360, and EN 813. |
|
|
1 |
Fall arrester The wire cable of the fall arrester fails under load. A person using the device will not be protected from falling. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation, EN 354, EN 360, and EN 813. |
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issues Product Safety Alerts to the UK market.
The following 3 alerts regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were issued between week 12 and week 19 of 2025.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Injuries |
1 |
Climbing equipment The Vision Harness has a design flaw which can lead to premature degradation and weakness of the waist belt. The product does not meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018. |
|
2 |
Climbing harnesses The product has two FAST LT buckles on the back, which are used to close the harness. These buckles can break during normal use, which may lead to the harness opening and the user falling from a height. The product does not meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 and General Product Safety Regulations 2005. |