ABSTRACT
The decision of the European Economic Community (EEC) to create a single European market by the end of 1992 meant, among other things, a free movement of goods. However, all the EEC countries have their own laws on product safety, and this can cause technical barriers to trade. To eliminate this problem for business and take into account the recommended high level of worker protection, the European Community ministers agreed on a “New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standards” in May 1985. This resulted in a Council Directive (Law) in the field of Personal Protective Equipment adopted in 1989, containing essential safety requirements. The technical details were left to the European standardization organizations.1
