EU Laws & regulations
In order for protective gloves to be CE-marked and put on the market in the EU/EEA, they must meet the requirements set out in regulation (EU) 2016/425 (on Personal Protective Equipment).
PPE Regulation
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stands for products worn or carried to offer protection from health or safety risks. Personal health and safety are fundamental rights and people deserve a high level of protection.The design and manufacture of PPE is subject to essential user safety requirements by an EU regulation (PPE regulation 2016/425). There are different types of EU legislation. Directives set out general rules to be transferred into national law by each country as they deem appropriate. A regulation is similar to a national law, only it is applicable in all EU countries.The PPE regulation defines legal obligations ensuring that PPE on the European market gives the highest level of protection against hazards. It establishes the market conditions and basic safety requirements which PPE must meet in order to bear the mandatory CE mark.
REACH
TEGA strictly follows the rules and regulations contained in the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) legislation. REACH is a European Union regulation adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. It also promotes alternative methods to reduce the number of tests on animals.
REACH applies to all chemical substances and along the entire supply chain; not only those used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day lives, for example in clothes. It makes companies responsible for the safety of chemicals they place on the market.
To comply with the regulation, TEGA must identify and manage the risks linked to the products we market in the EU. We have to demonstrate to ECHA how the substances are used safely, and communicate the measures to the end users.
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) are covered by REACH. A candidate substance is both included as a SVHC and considered especially dangerous. Consumers have the right to be informed of candidate substances. There are also lists of substances that are deemed extra troublesome and should be phased out or which have maximum limits in place.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), based in Helsinki, is the regulatory authority behind REACH. ECHA helps companies comply with the legislation, advances the safe use of chemicals, provides information on chemicals and addresses chemicals of concern.