CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

France: New Decree harmonising safety requirements for various consumer products

NOVEMBER 2019 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 30 September 2019, the Ministry for the Economy and Finance of France published a new Decree No. 2019-1007¹, harmonising the provisions in the safety regulation of certain non-food consumer products. Affected product sectors include childcare articles, bunk beds, portable ladders and stepladders, certain bedding articles, etc.

It does not modify the technical requirements applicable to the products covered by the various decrees, but with administrative modifications made as follows:

• The safety requirements have been harmonised; type examination carried out by an accredited body is required if there is no relevant technical reference standard;
• Certification of compliance with safety requirements issued following a type examination by another Member State of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Turkey is recognised;
• Products that are legally manufactured or marketed in another Member State of the EU, EEA, or Turkey would not be hindered from introducing into the French market;
• Economic operators are no longer required to affix the statement claiming the compliance with relevant safety requirements on the products;
• The penal sanctions have been harmonised.

This Decree came into force on the day after the publication; nevertheless, a one-year transitional period is given. Products conforming to their corresponding original Decree may stay on the market until 1 October 2020 or stocks are exhausted. The certificates of conformity issued according to the original Decree also remain valid.

[1] Decree No. 2019-1007 of September 30, 2019