In 2024, the European Union (EU) introduced several significant regulatory changes affecting product safety, compliance, and sustainability. Here are the nine most essential changes and amendments this year, including updates on the Toy Safety Regulation, General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Digital Product Passport (DPP), EU Batteries Regulation, and other related laws and directives.
1. Toy Safety Regulation (TSR):
- Revision efforts: The EU is revising its Toy Safety Directive (TSD) and aiming to replace it with a new Toy Safety Regulation (TSR). This initiative seeks to strengthen safety requirements, particularly concerning chemical hazards, and introduce measures like the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to improve product traceability.
- Legislative progress: In March 2024, the European Parliament approved its position on the proposed TSR. The EU Council has also adopted its position, and inter-institutional negotiations (trilogies) are underway to finalise the Regulation.
- Key provisions:
- Chemical safety: The proposed TSR aims to enhance child safety by banning or restricting the use of certain hazardous substances, including suspected or proven endocrine disruptors and substances toxic to specific organs.
- Digital Product Passport (DPP): The introduction of the DPP provides comprehensive information about the toy, including safety data and compliance documentation, thereby improving transparency and traceability within the supply chain.
- More information: European Commission - Toy Safety
2. General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR):
- Implementation date: The GPSR, adopted in May 2023, took effect on December 13, 2024. This Regulation replaced the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) and introduced updated safety requirements for consumer products sold within the EU.
- Scope and impact: The GPSR addresses challenges arising from digitalisation and new technologies, ensuring that products, including toys, meet stringent safety standards. It also imposes obligations on economic operators, such as manufacturers, importers, and distributors, to enhance product safety and compliance.
- More information: European Commission - General Product Safety Regulation
3. Digital Product Passport (DPP):
- Purpose and scope: The DPP provides comprehensive information about a product’s origin, composition, repairability, and recyclability. It promotes transparency and sustainability across various industries by enabling consumers and stakeholders to make informed decisions.
- Implementation timeline: The DPP was introduced under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which came into force on July 18, 2024. The initial focus is on specific product groups, including batteries, and legal enforcement will start in 2026. By 2030, most end-use and intermediate products sold in the EU will require a DPP.
- Industry impact: Construction and textiles are among the first to adopt DPP requirements. The construction sector must implement DPPs by 2026, enhancing transparency and sustainability in supply chains.
- More information: European Commission - Digital Product Passport
4. EU Batteries Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542):
- Overview: The new Batteries Regulation, which entered into force on August 17, 2023, establishes mandatory requirements for all batteries placed on the EU market, excluding those for military, space, and nuclear purposes. It aims to create harmonised legislation for the sustainability and safety of batteries.
- Key provisions effective in 2024:
- Conformity Assessment and CE Marking: From August 18, 2024, manufacturers must conduct conformity assessments for batteries intended for the EU market. Once they demonstrate compliance, they must affix the CE marking to the batteries.
- Labelling and information requirements: Batteries must bear detailed information specified in Annex VI of the Regulation, significantly expanding current information obligations to enhance transparency and consumer awareness.
- Future requirements:
- Digital Product Passport integration: The Regulation mandates the integration of DPPs for batteries. It will facilitate access to information on battery composition, performance, and recycling and thereby support circular economy objectives.
- More Information: European Commission - Batteries Regulation
5. Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD):
- Implementation timeline: The CSRD came into force on January 5, 2023, and its reporting requirements start in stages:
- From 2024: Large public-interest companies already subject to the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) must comply.
- From 2025: Other large companies must begin reporting.
- From 2026: SMEs listed on regulated markets must comply.
- Scope and Impact: The CSRD requires companies to report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in line with European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). This initiative enhances corporate transparency and accountability.
- More Information: European Commission - Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
6. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):
- Implementation Timeline: CBAM's transitional phase started on October 1, 2023, and its full implementation entered into force as of January 1, 2026.
- Scope and Impact: CBAM imposes a carbon price on imports of certain goods, including cement, iron, steel, aluminium, and electricity, to prevent carbon leakage and encourage decarbonisation of production processes.
- More Information: European Commission - CBAM
7. EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR):
- Adoption and Implementation: The EUDR entered force on June 29, 2023. From December 30, 2024, operators must ensure that specific commodities (e.g., coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and wood) placed on the EU market are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation.
- Key Provisions: Companies must conduct due diligence and provide evidence that their products comply with anti-deforestation requirements. Failure to comply may result in fines or market access restrictions.
- More Information: European Commission - Deforestation Regulation
8. Cosmetics Regulation:
- Ongoing Revisions: The EU is currently reviewing its cosmetics regulations, focusing on enhancing safety standards and transparency. Key areas include stricter labelling requirements and potential bans on particular hazardous substances.
- Expected Changes in 2025: Updates to labelling and ingredient restrictions will become effective in 2025, improving consumer safety and compliance.
- More Information: European Commission - Cosmetics
9. Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on Liability for Defective Products:
- Adoption and Scope: Directive (EU) 2024/2853, adopted on October 23, 2024, updates the EU’s product liability framework to address challenges posed by digital technologies and complex supply chains. It expands the definition of 'product' to include software and digital manufacturing files, encompassing a broader range of products, including toys with digital components.
- Implementation Timeline: EU member states must transpose this directive into national law by December 9, 2026.
- More Information: European Commission - Liability for Defective Products