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
ENVI-AD-778344
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Raúl de la Hoz Quintano
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The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes amendments to a proposed regulation on digitalisation and common specifications for product rules. It wants digital instructions and a digital contact point for manufacturers, with paper copies on request and safeguards for consumers and small businesses.¶¶¶ It asks for an assessment of digital communication's impact on safety, consumers, small businesses, the environment and cybersecurity, and for an evaluation by 31 December 2030.¶¶ It sets rules for batteries: instructions in an understandable language, digital access marked on the battery, and paper instructions on request up to 24 months after purchase, provided free of charge within one month.¶¶¶ It requires manufacturers to give authorities information in accessible electronic form within 15 or 30 days, and to show a digital contact instead of a postal address.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes amendments to the lead committee's text, adding digitalisation rules with consumer and small-business safeguards, a digital contact requirement, battery instruction rules, deadlines for information to authorities, and an evaluation by 31 December 2030.¶¶¶
Key points
- Recital 4 would add harmonisation to the reduction and modernisation of reporting requirements and economic operators' obligations, and require full digitalisation of business-to-authority reporting where consumer protection and safety are not affected.¶
- Recital 8 would introduce digital instructions, with safety information in paper or marked on the product, accessible via an internet link free of charge and without personal data, file downloads or extra applications, and a paper copy on request.¶
- New recitals 8a to 8c would require safeguards and guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises, an assessment of digital communication's impact, and clear, structured information understandable by vulnerable consumers.¶¶¶
- Recital 9 would require a digital contact on the product and in the EU declaration of conformity, accessible free of charge and without extra steps for end users and authorities.¶
- New recital 10a would require digital transmission and storage of compliance information to meet high standards of cybersecurity, data integrity and confidentiality, with privacy and cybersecurity by design.¶
- The definition of 'digital contact' would be an up-to-date, accessible, free-of-charge online channel reachable without registering or downloading an application.¶¶
- For stationary battery energy storage systems, instructions and safety information would have to be clear and readable in a language easily understood by all end-users, as determined by the member state of placing on the market.¶
- Manufacturers would have to mark on the battery how to access instructions or safety information digitally and how to request them in paper format.¶
- End-users could request paper instructions or safety information at purchase or up to 24 months after, through easily accessible channels, and manufacturers would have to provide them free of charge within one month.¶
- Manufacturers would indicate their name, trade name or trademark and a single digital contact point on the battery, instead of a postal address.¶
- Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, information and documentation to authorities would have to be provided in accessible electronic form within 30 days or 15 days of a request, and the manufacturer's digital contact would replace the postal address in Annex V.¶¶¶
- A new Article 8a would require the Commission to evaluate by 31 December 2030 the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises, accessibility, interoperability and cybersecurity, environment, product safety and consumer protection, and the need for further digital tools.¶
Who is affected
- Manufacturers of products covered by the regulations, who must provide digital instructions and a digital contact point and supply paper copies on request.¶¶¶
- Small and medium-sized enterprises, for which the amendments seek safeguards, guidance and reduced administrative burden.¶¶
- Consumers, including elderly persons, persons with disabilities and those with limited digital literacy, who must be able to access and understand safety information.¶
- National competent authorities, which must receive information and documentation in accessible electronic form within set deadlines.¶¶¶
- The Commission, which must assess the impact of digital communication and carry out an evaluation by 31 December 2030.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 94% of EU households had access to internet in 2024.¶
- End-users may request paper instructions up to 24 months after purchase.¶
- Manufacturers must provide requested paper instructions free of charge within one month.
- Information and documentation must be provided within 30 days of receipt of a request.¶
- Information and documentation must be provided within 15 days of receipt of a request.¶¶¶
- The Commission must carry out an evaluation no later than 31 December 2030.¶