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The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive
(Directive 89/686/EEC)
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Subject Area |
The Directive applies to any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by
an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards (as
defined in the Directive).
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| Coverage |
This is wide and includes, for example, gloves,
protective clothing, footwear, sunglasses, helmets and respiratory protective
devices.
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Intention of
Legislation |
To remove the need for documentation and testing
for each individual European market. Manufacturers may CE mark their products
only once to show compliance with the Directive.
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| Brief History |
The Personal Protective
Equipment (EC Directive) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/3139) (the Principal
Regulations), which gave force to the Directive's requirements in the UK,
entered into force on 1 January 1993 with an extended transitional period up to
30 June 1995 for compliance. Further amendments since then provide for changes
to the CE marking to bring it in line with other similar directives. A further
amendment was made recently in order to extend the PPE Regulations to cover
powers of prosecution to be provided to the Trading Standards Departments and at
the same time the existing amendments and Principal Regulations were
consolidated into one document in the interest of providing clearer legislation.
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| Current Position |
The consolidated Regulations are now called
"The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 No.
1144)" and these revoke the Principal Regulations and the three existing
amendments. A copy of these Regulations is available on HMSO' website at the
following address www.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm.
As these Regulations maintain the implementation of the PPE Directive, a
transposition note setting out how the Government will transpose into UK law the
main elements of this Directive is available on our downloadable
documents page.
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| Current Problems |
Awareness and communication continue to be major problems across the EU for
the smooth implementation of the Directive. Some of the problems identified are:
- Scope: unclear about applicability to consumer PPE for domestic use; also
demarcation between PPE and other directives, e.g. Medical Devices and Toys
requires clarification.
- Standards: still not available for all PPE.
- Product Categorisation/Conformity
Assessment Procedures: require clarification to allow an increased scope for
self-certification in order to ease demands on third-party testing and reduce
compliance costs.
- Notified Bodies: greater transparency and uniformity is required across
member states in the assessment of applicants for Notified Body status in order
to increase confidence in their appointment and activities.
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| Future Work |
A review of the Directive involving Member States
is going ahead.
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| Guidance / Further Information |
A comprehensive DTI Guidance booklet is
available.
A list of UK Approved Bodies appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade
and Industry is available from our downloadable
documents page.
Further information, including lists of harmonised standards as published
periodically in the Official Journal of the European Communities, is
available from the European Commission's "Enterprise"
website.
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| Contacts |
Neeroo Girdharee / Ana Nicola, Department of Trade and Industry,
STRD4, Bay 324, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS
Tel: 020 7215 1411 / 1573; Fax: 020 7215 1529
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