EUROPE
Update to Harmonised Standards for PPE
On 14 February 2025, the European Commission published Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/286, which amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 concerning the harmonised standards for hearing protectors, personal fall protection equipment, and eye and face protection equipment. These standards support Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and Council on personal protective equipment.
Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/941 is amended as follows:
- row 14 is deleted;
- rows 25, 27, 28, 29 and 63 are deleted;
- the following rows are inserted in sequential order:
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No
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Reference of standard
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‘25a.
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EN 352-6:2020+A1:2024
Hearing protectors – Safety requirements – Part 6: Earmuffs with safety-related audio input;
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‘27a.
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EN 352-8:2020+A1:2024
Hearing protectors – Safety requirements – Part 8: Entertainment audio earmuffs;
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‘28a.
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EN 352-9:2020+A1:2024
Hearing protectors – Safety requirements – Part 9: Earplugs with safety-related audio input;
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‘29a.
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EN 352-10:2020+A1:2024
Hearing protectors – Safety requirements – Part 10: Entertainment audio earplugs;
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‘63–a.
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EN 813:2024
Personal fall protection equipment – Sit harnesses
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For the complete amendment, please refer to the official publication on the European Commission website here.
PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source Safety Gate (RAPEX)).
Europe
Safety Gate (RAPEX) (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following 9 alerts regarding protective equipment were reported between week 4 and week 11 of 2025.
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Type of Risk
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Number of alerts
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Notes
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Chemicals
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1
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Children's gardening gloves
The leather in the product contains chromium VI.
The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
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Injuries
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1
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Motorcycle hoodie
The hoodie structural strong layers are lacking in structural integrity and protective capabilities.
The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation nor with EN 1621, EN 13594, EN 17092.
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1
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Motorcycle trousers
The product does not provide adequate protection to the user in the event of an accident.
The product does not meet the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (PPE).
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1
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Motorcycle jacket
The fabric used in the product does not meet the necessary tear strength.
The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation.
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2
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Auto-belay
The metal cable is not resistant enough.
The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (PPE) nor with EN 360, EN 354 and EN 813.
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1
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Safety harness
The thigh straps of the harness are not resistant enough as they break under a load.
The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation nor with EN 361.
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1
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Bicycle helmet
The shock-absorbing capacity of the helmet is insufficient. Moreover, due to its inadequate shape and structure, the helmet may come off the wearer's head.
The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation nor with EN 1078.
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Damage to sight
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1
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Sunglasses
The product does not provide information about the sunglasses’ protective filter which may lead consumers to believe the product has a higher level of protection than it does, increasing the risk of eye damage.
The product does not comply with the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (PPE) nor with EN 12312-1.
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UK
OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts to the UK market.
The following 6 alerts regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were issued between week 4 and week 11 of 2025.
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Type of Risk
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Number of alerts
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Notes
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Injuries
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1
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Personal fall protection equipment
In the event of a fall, these devices may not lock up as designed which could expose the worker to serious injury or, potentially, death.
The product does not meet the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.
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1
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Climbing harness
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 Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment or the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.
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1
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Motorcycle hoodie
The product does not provide sufficient protection to the user in the event of an accident and therefore presents a high risk to anyone using the product as personal protective equipment.
The hoodie is not Kevlar, and its structural strong layers which are crucial for its structural integrity and protective capabilities did not meet the required standard.
The product does not meet the requirements of Regulation 2016/425 or the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.
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3
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Emergency life support apparatus
A limited number of ELSA Hood assemblies have been identified with a seam defect that may cause air to leak from the hood and contaminants from the external environment to flow into the hood.
The product does not meet the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018.
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