The European Commission has once again updated the list of harmonized standards under the PPE Regulation (2016/425). Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1971, published on September 4, 2026, introduced new and updated standard references for hairdressing gloves, rain-protective clothing, and occupational eye and face protection.
The change of greatest interest to protective clothing manufacturers is the replacement of EN 343:2019 with EN ISO 24232:2025 for rain-protective clothing. EN ISO 374-6:2025 has been added to the list for protective gloves intended for hairdressers; amendments to the EN ISO 16321-1 and 16321-3 standards regarding eye and face protection have also been approved. The withdrawal date for outdated standards covering respiratory protective equipmentโincluding helmets, hoods, or full-face masksโhas been postponed by one year to October 8, 2027. The EN 144 series, which covers gas cylinder valve connections, and EN 148-1 were removed from the list on the grounds that they were no longer current.
In October, the agenda focused on the standardization system itself. On October 6, 2026, the Commission proposed a new European Standardization Regulation to replace Regulation No. 1025/2012; the proposal provides for free access to standards referenced in legislation and sets binding timelines for standard development processes. The Commission expects the regulation to reduce the standard development time by one-third.
It is recommended that manufacturers and importers review the references to standards in their technical files and EU declarations of conformity.
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