On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 765/2008, (EU) 2016/424, (EU) 2016/425, (EU) 2016/426, (EU) 2023/1230, (EU) 2023/1542 and (EU) 2024/1781 as regards digitalisation and common specifications
A-10-2026-0024
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Reinier Van Lanschot
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 to amend seven product regulations on digitalisation and common specifications. It requires EU declarations of conformity to be accessible directly online or via a machine-readable code, and allows digital instructions with paper-format safeguards for consumers.¶¶¶ Manufacturers must add a digital contact alongside their postal address on products and declarations. Consumers may request paper instructions up to 24 months after purchase; professional users up to 6 months; manufacturers must send them free within 15 working days.¶¶ The Commission may adopt common specifications by implementing acts only where no harmonised standard exists and standardisation requests fail, as a last resort for urgent concerns, and only until revised standardisation legislation enters into force.¶¶¶ The Commission must report on the effectiveness of digital safety information within three years and review the Regulation five years after entry into force.¶
Committee position. The committee proposes to adopt Parliament's first-reading position amending the Commission proposal, adding safeguards for digital instructions and digital contacts, and setting strict conditions and a time limit for common specifications.¶¶¶
Key points
- Reporting requirements should be streamlined, and digitalisation should reduce and harmonise reporting and operators' obligations without affecting consumer protection and safety.¶¶
- The Commission and member states are encouraged to give guidance and promote standardised digital tools to help companies, especially SMEs and micro-enterprises, go digital.¶
- EU declarations of conformity must accompany products electronically and be directly accessible via an internet address or machine-readable code, free of charge and without personal data or registration.¶
- Digital instructions are allowed, but safety information affecting safe use must always be in paper format or marked on the product; accessibility requirements of Directive (EU) 2019/882 apply.¶¶
- Consumers may request paper instructions or safety information at purchase or up to 24 months after; professional users up to 6 months; requests may be made by telephone and manufacturers must reply free within 15 working days.¶¶¶
- For protective equipment intended for consumers, all instructions and information in point 1.4 of Annex II must be provided in paper format or made visible on the packaging.¶¶
- Economic operators must provide both a postal address and a digital contact on products and declarations; the digital contact must be free, require no personal data or registration, and excludes chatbots, fax numbers and telephone lines.¶¶
- Common specifications may be adopted by implementing acts only where no harmonised standard exists and a standardisation request is not accepted or not delivered, and compliance remains voluntary for manufacturers.¶¶¶
- Common specifications may be adopted as a last resort for urgent concerns, 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.¶¶¶
- The Commission's power to adopt common specifications is temporary, ending when revised standardisation legislation enters into force, and it must inform Parliament and consult stakeholders and an expert group.¶¶¶
- Where a harmonised standard is published, the Commission must repeal or amend conflicting common specifications; Parliament or a member state may flag a common specification that does not satisfy essential requirements.¶¶¶
- The Commission must monitor digital consumer instructions, report within three years and review the Regulation five years after entry into force.¶
Who is affected
- Manufacturers of products under the amended regulations must provide digital contacts, online declarations of conformity and paper instructions on request.¶¶¶
- Consumers gain a right to request paper instructions or safety information up to 24 months after purchase, including by telephone.¶
- Professional users may request paper instructions up to 6 months after purchase.¶
- Importers and distributors must verify that products carry the internet address or machine-readable code for the declaration of conformity.¶¶¶
- The Commission gains powers to adopt common specifications by implementing acts under strict conditions and for a limited time.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 94% of EU households had access to internet in 2024¶
- Consumers may request paper instructions up to 24 months after purchase¶¶¶
- Professional users may request paper instructions up to 6 months after purchase
- Manufacturers must send requested instructions free of charge within 15 working days
- Market surveillance information must be provided in electronic form within 15 days of a request¶
- The Commission must publish a report within three years from entry into force and review the Regulation five years after entry into force¶
Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶