All PPE must be supplied with a Declaration of Conformity

What does a Declaration of Conformity mean?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation 2016/425 requires

A declaration of conformity by a manufacturer, brand, trademark owner, or the manufacturer's authorised representative, confirms that the product in question meets all relevant requirements of all European safety standards applicable to that product. 

For the declaration to be signed by the manufacturer the product must be in compliance with relevant essential health and safety requirements within annex II of the PPE Regulation, and has been through the appropriate assessment process for conformity.

A Declaration of Conformity is not a quality guarantee. However, when correctly drawn up along with CE marking on the product by a responsible and reliable manufacturer, conformity of the product with the PPE regulation quoted on the Declaration of Conformity could be presumed by the customer.

Products subject to more than one Directive or Regulation may be provided with a single Declaration of Conformity declaring conformity with two or more pieces of legislation, or there may be several Declarations. i.e. PPE, Food Contact etc. could use a single declaration of conformity

When and how must a PPE Declaration of Conformity be provided?

PPE Regulation 2016/425 states

“Market surveillance authorities should have easy access to the EU declaration of conformity. In order to fulfil this requirement, manufacturers should ensure that PPE is accompanied either by a copy of the EU declaration of conformity or by the internet address at which the EU declaration of conformity can be accessed”.

PLEASE SEE GUIDANCE ON THE NEW PPE REGULATION