In April 2016, the 2016/425 Personal Protective Equipment Regulation was published, which has replaced the 89/686 / EEC Personal Protective Equipment Directive. The transition process has started on April 21, 2018, and the final adaptation date was April 2019. The old PPE Directive 89/686/EEC has been repealed as of 21 April 2019.

The PPE Regulation (EU) No 2016/425 is a rigorous control and balance system that will ensure the safety of workers in the industry more confidently in the presence of an increasingly global network of PPE manufacturers, distributors, importers and test laboratories. The new regulation facilitates the removal of dangerous products from the market by increasing traceability.

In the new regulation, the risk categories remained the same, but some product groups were redefined.

Regardless of the risk category, all PPE must now contain a Declaration of Conformity.

The validity period of product certificates has been clarified as only 5 years.