Blog - Page 4 of 13 - Die Produktkanzlei

25. September 2023 Dr. Gerhard Wiebe

Whistleblowing in Product Compliance – The German Whistleblower Protection Act from a Product Law Perspective

The German Act on the protection of persons who report breaches of law (HinSchG) came into force on 02.07.2023. The protection of whistleblowers intended by the HinSchG will also indirectly lead to product safety non-conformities increasingly being brought to the attention of manufacturers and other economic operators within the company.

18. September 2023 Michael Öttinger

Extended producer responsibility for textiles and footwear

On 05.07. 2023, the EU Commission published a proposal to revise the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98 EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste), which provides for far-reaching regulations for manufacturers of textiles as well as footwear and the handling of used textiles. Whether this can really create an incentive for the development of more durable products, the improvement of recyclability and thus the reduction of waste generation, as hoped by the EU Commission, remains to be seen.

22. August 2023 Dr. Gerhard Wiebe

Commission proposal for a regulation on the safety of toys

On 28.07.2023, the EU Commission published its proposal for a regulation on the safety of toys (hereinafter “TSR-D”). The new regulation is to replace the currently applicable Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys (so-called Toy Safety Directive).

18. July 2023 Martin Ahlhaus

EU Commission sets stricter emission limits for formaldehyde

On 14 July 2023, the EU Commission adopted the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 on Annex XVII of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. This is the first time that an explicit restriction for formaldehyde has been introduced. After a transition period of 36 or 48 months, the restriction provides for specific limits for formaldehyde in indoor air for a number of consumer products. Among others, this concerns wood-based materials, furniture, construction products and the interior of road vehicles.

7. July 2023 Michael Öttinger

Green Dot: case closed.

The legal battle around the use of the Green Dot in France eventually ended.

3. July 2023 Martin Ahlhaus

PFAS restriction: Challenges for medical device manufacturers

The planned ban on the production, placing on the market and use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (so-called PFAS) will pose considerable challenges for companies in a wide range of industries.

12. June 2023 Michael Öttinger

Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains published in the EU Official Journal

On 09.06.2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 was published in the Official Journal of the EU.

30. May 2023 Dr. Florian Niermeier

Update on new class action in Germany

On 17.05.2023, the statement of the Bundesrat on the VRUG and the counter-statement of the Federal Government were published as BT-Drs. 20/6878.

24. May 2023 Dr. Florian Niermeier

EU plans to introduce a Right to Repair

In the course of implementing its Green Deal, the EU Commission now wants to introduce a right to repair for the benefit of consumers over and above the existing warranty. Manufacturers in particular will therefore be faced with additional obligations and costs.

12. May 2023 Martin Ahlhaus

CLP: Introduction of new hazard classes – Legal concerns

The European Commission has introduced new hazard classes into the CLP Regulation through Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/707 of 19.12.2022.