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Enanced product safety

In May 1985, the Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) agreed on a New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standards in order to achieve the free movement of goods and an open market for business in Europe. In accordance with these New Approach directives (which are EC laws), regulations have been issued which must be met before products may be delivered in the Community (called EU European Union since Nov. 1, 1993).

Since then the essential requirements of the regulations have been enforced by European Norms (EN), which essentially deal with safety regulations. The EN’s are scheduled to gradually replace the diverse local and national health and safety legislations which have been enacted in the individual EU countries.

Products meeting the EN requirements may carry the label stands for Communauté Européenne), which indicates that they can be delivered anywhere in the EU.