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REPORT (COM(2025)0503 – C100091/2025 – 2025/0133(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2000/14/EC, 2011/65/EU, 2013/53/EU, 2014/29/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2014/31/EU, 2014/32/EU, 2014/33/EU, 2014/34/EU, 2014/35/EU, 2014/53/EU, 2014/68/EU and 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards digitalisation and common specifications

A-10-2026-0023

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Reinier Van Lanschot

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a directive amending thirteen product directives on digitalisation and common specifications. It requires EU declarations of conformity to be accessible online or via a machine-readable code, and adds a 'digital contact' for economic operators. It allows instructions and safety information in digital format, but keeps safety information in paper format or marked on the product for consumer products, and lets consumers request paper instructions. It sets conditions under which the Commission may adopt common specifications by implementing acts, limits that power in time, and adds procedural and scrutiny requirements. It requires the Commission to report on the effectiveness of digital safety information and to review the directive.

Committee position. The committee proposes to adopt Parliament's position at first reading with amendments to the Commission proposal, adding safeguards for consumers, conditions and time limits for common specifications, and reporting and review requirements.

Key points

  1. Reporting requirements should be streamlined, and business-to-authority reporting and economic operators' obligations fully digitalised where consumer protection and safety are not affected.
  2. The Commission and member states are encouraged to give guidance and practical support and to promote streamlined, standardised digital tools, especially for small and micro-enterprises.
  3. The EU declaration of conformity must accompany the product in electronic form and be directly accessible through an internet address or machine-readable code, free of charge and without personal data or registration.
  4. Instructions may be provided in digital format, but safety information must always be in paper format or marked on the product for consumer products, and must be easily visible and legible, including for persons with disabilities.
  5. Consumers may request paper instructions or safety information at purchase or up to 24 months after; professional users up to 6 months; manufacturers must send them free of charge within 15 working days.
  6. Manufacturers must indicate a postal address and a digital contact on the product and in the EU declaration of conformity; the digital contact must allow direct contact, free of charge and without registration.
  7. The Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing common specifications as a fall-back where no harmonised standard exists or is expected, or where a standardisation request fails.
  8. Common specifications may be adopted as a last resort to address an urgent concern, including when the internal market emergency mode is activated or cooperation with international standardisation organisations is suspended; in the latter case only after Council authorisation.
  9. The Commission's power to adopt common specifications is limited in time, until the entry into force of revised standardisation legislation (EU) 1025/2012.
  10. Before preparing implementing acts, the Commission must inform the committee under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, consult stakeholders and an expert group, and keep Parliament informed.
  11. When a harmonised standard is published, the Commission must repeal or amend common specifications covering the same requirements; Parliament may flag specifications that do not satisfy essential requirements.
  12. The Commission must monitor the effectiveness of digital safety information, publish a report within three years of entry into force, and review the directive five years after transposition.

Who is affected

  • Manufacturers, importers and distributors of products covered by the amended directives, who must provide digital declarations of conformity and digital contacts.
  • Consumers, who keep the right to paper safety information and instructions and can request them for up to 24 months after purchase.
  • Professional users, who can request paper instructions or safety information up to 6 months after purchase.
  • The Commission, which gains powers to adopt common specifications under conditions and must report and review.
  • Member states, which must ensure equipment may be placed on the market only if accompanied by the internet address or machine-readable code for the declaration of conformity.

Figures and deadlines

  • 94% of EU households had access to internet in 2024.
  • Consumers may request paper instructions or safety information up to 24 months after purchase.
  • Professional users may request paper instructions or safety information up to 6 months after purchase.
  • Manufacturers must send requested paper instructions or safety information within 15 working days.
  • The Commission must publish a report on digital safety information within three years from entry into force of the directive.
  • The Commission must review the directive and publish results five years after transposition.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.