The ‘Blue Guide’ on the implementation of EU product rules 2022

13. October 2022

This new version of the Guide builds on the past editions, but also reflects recent changes in the legislation and in particular the adoption of a new Regulation on Market Surveillance.

Historically, the EU legislation for goods has progressed through five main phases:

— The traditional approach or ‘Old Approach’ with detailed texts containing all the necessary technical and administrative requirements;
— The ‘New Approach’ developed in 1985, which restricted the content of legislation to ‘essential requirements’ leaving the technical details to European harmonised standards. This in turn led to the development of the European standardisation policy to support this legislation;
— The development of the conformity assessment instruments made necessary by the implementation of the various Union harmonisation acts, both the New Approach and Old Approach;
— The ‘New Legislative Framework’ adopted in July 2008, which built on the New Approach and completed the overall legislative framework with all the necessary elements for effective conformity assessment, accreditation and market surveillance, including the control of products from outside the Union;
— The adoption of a new Regulation on Market Surveillance and a new Regulation on Mutual Recognition of goods lawfully marketed in another Member State in 2019.