Amending certain Regulations as regards digitalisation and common specifications (Omnibus IV)
The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Reinier VAN LANSCHOT (Greens/EFA, NL) 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.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading by amending the proposal as follows:
Objective
The proposal aims to simplify reporting requirements and ensure the digitisation and harmonisation of common specifications by amending: (i) Regulation (EU) 2016/424 on cableway installations; (ii) Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment; (ii) Regulation (EU) 2016/426 on appliances burning gaseous fuels; (iv) Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery; (v) Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries and (vi) Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products by a combination of measures.
The Commission and Member States are encouraged to provide guidance and practical support, as well as to promote the development of streamlined and standardised digital tools, with a view to facilitating the digital transition of businesses, in particular SMEs and micro-enterprises.
Declaration of conformity directly accessible
The manufacturer should therefore make sure that the EU declaration of conformity is directly accessible through an internet address or a machine-readable code. Direct access via the internet address or the machine-readable code should be free of charge, without the need to provide any personal data, to download or use additional applications specific to the economic operator, or an obligation to register solely in order to access the EU declaration of conformity.
Safety information
Members stressed that safety information and instructions that have an impact on product safety are to be intended as essential details necessary for safe and efficient use under reasonably foreseeable conditions, even if not intended for consumers.
When a product is used solely by professional users, safety information and instructions affecting the safe use of the product may be provided in digital format.
In order to ensure that consumers, including elderly persons, persons with disabilities or those with limited digital literacy, are able to access and understand the safety information and instructions, manufacturers should provide information and instructions in a form that is easily visible and legible.
When the end user is a consumer, they should be able to request instructions or safety information in printed form at the time of purchase or for up to 24 months thereafter (6 months for a professional), using accessible means such as the telephone. The manufacturer should send these within 15 business days. Users should be informed of their right to request printed instructions for use. Manufacturers may provide additional content electronically only (e.g., videos), but if this differs from the electronic format, the printed material must be clear, understandable, and intelligible, and sufficient to ensure the safe and correct use of the device or equipment.
Common specifications
The Commission may adopt implementing acts which establish common specifications which offer a means of complying with essential requirements where there is no harmonised standard, where the request has not been accepted by any of the European standardisation organisations or where the requested European standards have not been delivered within the specified time or do not meet the request.
The Commission may, as a last resort, by means of implementing acts, adopt common specifications in order to address an urgent concern with regard to non-compliant appliances and fittings. The Commission should provide the European Parliament, in a timely manner, with all relevant information concerning the implementing acts. When the European Parliament considers that a common specification or parts thereof do not entirely satisfy the essential requirements, it should inform the Commission thereof by submitting a detailed explanation. The Commission should assess that detailed explanation and may, where appropriate, amend it if necessary.
The Commission should be empowered to adopt implementing acts until the entry into force of the revised standardisation legislation (EU) 1025/2012.
Assessing and reporting
In implementing the provisions concerning instructions to consumers in digital format, the Commission should monitor their effectiveness and assess whether any measure is required to ensure that such information remains fully accessible and comprehensible to consumers.
Within three years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission should publish a report on the effectiveness of digital safety information regarding products intended for consumers. Taking that report into consideration, the Commission should review this Regulation and should publish the results of that review, including, where appropriate, a draft proposal for revision five years after the entry into force.