Scope and legal context
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 concerns equipment designed to be worn or held for protection against health or safety risks. The intended protective function and risk category determine the assessment route. A test result is meaningful only with its protection level, conditioning, size range and limits of use.
Status and transition
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 has applied since 21 April 2018. Read the current Official Journal decision and amendments, including any restricted citations; passing one test cannot establish all protection claimed for the equipment.
Questions for the product review
- Which hazard and protective function are claimed for the equipment?
- Which risk category and third-party assessment arrangements follow?
- Do materials, sizes, interfaces and accessories remain within the assessed configuration?
Evidence to examine
- Link protective-performance results to the exact materials, construction, conditioning and applicable performance level.
- Check that marking and user instructions carry the tested limitations and compatible-use conditions.
- Retain type-assessment and production-surveillance evidence where required by the PPE category.
Official sources
- European Commission: Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- PPE standard publication: Decision (EU) 2026/1279
Sources checked: 20 October 2026
Check the governing act, its amendments and the exact standard citation together. The source list can contain earlier editions or historical framework records.
Standard reference records
265 indexed reference strings are linked to this source collection, including historical entries.