Category: European Union

Microplastic Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Microplastics are particles that are smaller than 5 mm and made of polymers and additives. These can be found in products such as cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaning products.

Microplastics can get released into the environment, harming it. As such, the EU now restricts microplastics and products and mixtures that contain intentionally added microplastics.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers should know about microplastics, including which products may contain them, whether these are banned, and how the REACH and EU Ecolabel Regulations restrict microplastics.
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European Union Authorised Representatives: A Complete Guide

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Request a free EU Authorised Representative Quotation Here

Article 4 and 5 of the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 requires that companies established outside the EU, but selling certain products to consumers in the single market, must have an authorised representative – in particular products that require CE marking.

In practice, this means that non-EU companies pay EU entities to act as their authorised representative. Further, the packaging must also include the name and address of the authorised representative.

In this guide, we explain how this works in practice, and what the consequences can be if you don’t have an authorised representative.

Related Articles

1. This guide only covers EU AR requirements within the scope of the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. If you are looking for authorised representative requirements concerning medical devices, then you can find the relevant article here.

2. This guide covers authorised representative requirements in the UK.

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Ecodesign Directive: An Essential Guide

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Ecodesign Directive

The EcodesThe Ecodesign Directive establishes a framework for general requirements and specific implementing measures for various energy-related products, such as vacuum cleaners, computers, and refrigerators.

In this guide, we explain the directive’s product scope and provide information concerning conformity assessment, documentation, labelling, and other requirements.
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Technical Documentation for CE Marked Products in the EU

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Technical documentation, also referred to as a technical file, is mandatory for most products that require CE marking in the European Union. As such, technical documentation is mandatory for electronics, toys, protective equipment, medical devices, machinery, and more.

However, understanding what to include in your technical documentation, and how to actually go about creating it, can be challenging.
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Extended Producer Responsibility in France – Q&A with Léko

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Extended Producer Responsibility in France

Extended Producer Responsibility (PRO) is covered by provisions of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC. In practice, EPR requires producers (which includes brands, importers, or manufacturers) to finance packaging waste collection.

This is managed on a national level, by approved organisations. In France, Léko is one such Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).

In this guide, they share what businesses selling products in France must know about the EPR registration process, fees, Triman, and other packaging waste instructions.
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Which Countries Accept CE Marked Products?

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CE mark Accepted

The European Union mandates the use of the CE marking for many product categories such as electronics, toys, medical devices, and personal protective equipment. That being said, some countries outside the EU, including Turkey and the United Kingdom, can accept the CE marking for certain products.

Other countries recognise certain aspects of the CE marking process – such as EN standards.

In this guide, we explain what you need to know about the acceptance concerning CE-marked products and EN standards in the United Kingdom, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, Singapore, and other countries.
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Bisphenol A (BPA) Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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A broad range of products can contain Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used to enhance plastic durability. However, Bisphenol A (BPA) is restricted under various regulations in the EU due to its potential to cause harm to human health.

More specifically, Bisphenol A is restricted in consumer products, food contact materials, and toys in the European Union.

In this guide, we explain how regulations REACH, the Toy Safety Directive, and other regulations, including some national laws, either restrict or relate to Bisphenol A.

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List of European Authorised Representative Companies 2024

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Request a free EU Authorised Representative Quotation Here

The Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 states that sellers based outside the EU selling certain products to consumers in the European Union must have an authorised representative. This authorised representative must based in the EU, and manage certain tasks within the market.

In this guide, we list companies offering authorised representative services for products covered by the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.

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List of CE Marking Service Companies: Our Top 16 Picks

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Looking for a consultant or other service provider to help you understand CE marking? In this article, we list software tools, consulting companies, and testing and certification companies offering a wide range of CE mark-related compliance services.

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Essential Oil Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Essential Oils Regulations in the EU

Essential oils can contain substances that are subject to various restrictions. These restrictions concern substances that are flammable, harmful to humans, labelling requirements, and documentation.

In this guide, we explain how regulations such as the CLP Regulation, Cosmetics Regulation, and REACH relate to essential oils. We also list a few standards and test methods relevant to essential oils.
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