EU Standards
The Retail market carries a complex blend of products that are affected by European and British legislation in a multitude of ways. Depending on their intended use products may fall under the Personal Protective Equipment Directive, the Food Contact Directive, the Medical Devices Directive, the General Product Safety Directive or a host of other requirements.
The Personal Protective Equipment Directive governs products intended to protect the wearer from injury. Within the retail market this most commonly refers to contact with potentially harmful chemicals (such as bleaches) or protection against physical hazards such as abrasion or tearing. Products for use with such hazards must comply with the PPE directive and be CE marked.
The Medical Devices Directive governs products intended to aid in the diagnosis or prevention of disease. Products for use n such situations must comply with the Medical Devices directive and be CE marked.
The General Product Safety Directive is intended to ensure that products placed on the market are safe. The directive only applies where other Directives are absent or do not cover all functions of a product. Within the retail market this would commonly refer to household gloves.
| Chemical and Micro-Organism EN374 | |
 | EN374-2 Resistance to penetration by micro-organisms. Referred to as acceptable quality level (AQL) |
 | EN374-3 Resistance to chemical hazards (permeation) |
| Mechanical Hazards EN388 | |
 | a) Resistance to abrasion b) Blade cut resistance c) Tear resistance d) Puncture resistance |
