The EU Commission published the ‘Blue Guide on the implementation of the product rules 2022’. The Guide is meant for a better understanding of EU product rules and facilitation of their uniform application across sectors throughout the Single Market
The product rules are aligned with the New Legislative Framework which covers for instance toys, measuring instruments, radio equipment, low voltage electrical equipment, medical devices, fertilising products. The Blue Guide also provides explanations and advice regarding the European conformity assessment system, the accreditation of laboratories, the CE marking, and market surveillance.
The Blue Guide is a non-binding instrument and it was published in 2000. It has been subsequently updated twice, in 2014 and 2016. The current revision is a substantial update and takes into account developments that have come up since 2016, for example, related to the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. It also elaborates on specific features such as distance sales, making products available on the market subject to physical modifications or software updates and the assessment of conformity assessment bodies. The guide is available in Irish for the first time
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