2026 Latest Update Of EU PPE CE Standards And Certification Requirements

1. Overview Of 2026 EU PPE Standard Updates

The European Commission officially released the latest updated PPE harmonized standard regulations in 2026, mainly including (EU) 2026/1279 and (EU) 2026/1971. Multiple core EN standards for personal protective equipment have been fully revised, and critical product risk classification rules have been adjusted synchronously.

All PPE manufacturers and exporters engaged in EU market business must comply with the new testing specifications, certification procedures and technical document requirements to maintain legal market access and product compliance.

2. Updated Core EN Standards For Mainstream PPE Products (2026 Mandatory)

Mainstream and high-volume PPE products have ushered in official standard revisions in 2026. All enterprises must update test reports, technical files, product labels and user manuals to match the latest EU harmonized standards.

2.1 Industrial Safety Helmets (EN 397:2025 + AC:2025)

This new standard completely replaces the old version EN 397:2012. It comprehensively upgrades technical indicators including impact resistance, puncture resistance and lateral compression performance. In addition, it adds mandatory low-temperature environment performance assessment, putting forward higher requirements for the environmental adaptability of industrial safety helmets.

2.2 High-Visibility Safety Clothing (EN 17353:2020 + A1:2025)

The revised standard optimizes the core performance indicators of high-visibility protective clothing, including material durability, surface wear resistance and reflective brightness attenuation after repeated washing. It is applicable to all medium-risk high-visibility vests and industrial work clothes widely used in road construction, logistics transportation and factory operation scenarios.

2.3 Protective Gloves General Standard (EN ISO 21420:2020/A1:2024)

This amendment updates the limit standards of harmful substances in glove materials, unified product size specifications and optimized aging resistance testing rules. All types of safety gloves such as cut-resistant gloves, chemical-resistant gloves and general industrial protective gloves must comply with this updated standard.

2.4 Eye And Face Protection Equipment (EN ISO 16321 Series A1:2025-2026)

The updated standard revises the structural stability, impact resistance and splash-proof performance requirements of safety goggles, protective face shields and mesh protective screens, effectively improving the safety protection level for industrial grinding, liquid splashing and mechanical impact scenarios.

2.5 Mountaineering And Height Safety Helmets (EN 12492:2025)

The new standard upgrades the impact test method and the fixing strength requirements of chin straps, further standardizing the safety performance of protective helmets for high-altitude operation, outdoor rescue and mountain construction scenarios.

3. Newly Added PPE Standards In The 2026 EU Official List

3.1 Chemical And Microbial Protective Gloves (EN ISO 374-6:2025)

This newly included standard focuses on light industrial, hairdressing and daily chemical operation scenarios, adding professional evaluation criteria for microbial isolation and mild chemical erosion resistance, filling the standard gap of multi-scenario lightweight protective gloves.

3.2 Waterproof Protective Clothing (EN ISO 24232:2025)

As a new harmonized standard for outdoor protective workwear, it optimizes core indicators such as water pressure resistance, fabric moisture permeability and low-temperature bending crack resistance, adapting to the harsh working environment of outdoor rain and low temperature.

4. Critical PPE Classification And Certification Path Upgrade (Effective June 2026)

According to the official regulation (EU) 2024/2748, starting from June 1, 2026, many PPE products originally belonging to Class I (Self-Declaration) have been officially upgraded to Class III High-Risk PPE.

These products are no longer allowed to adopt manufacturer self-declaration. They must complete NB Notified Body EU Type Examination Certification and implement annual production supervision and audit to obtain valid CE certification.

Affected product categories are listed as follows:

• Chainsaw Cut-Resistant Gloves

• High-Pressure Water Jet Protective Gloves And Sleeves

• Work Life Jackets And Buoyancy Protection Equipment

• Heavy-Duty Stab-Resistant And Cut-Resistant Protective Gear

5. 2026 Latest Update For FFP Respiratory Protection Masks (EN 149:2026)

The new EN 149:2026 standard will be officially implemented in October 2026. It significantly tightens the oil aerosol penetration limit for FFP2 and FFP3 protective masks, and puts forward higher data traceability and calibration requirements for testing equipment.

All respiratory protection mask manufacturers need to update test reports and technical files in advance to ensure full compliance with the new standard after implementation.

6. Dursafety’s Compliance Strategy & Commitment

Dursafety PPE China always keeps real-time track of EU PPE regulatory iterations and standard updates. We actively respond to the 2026 new standard changes, complete product performance upgrading, new standard testing and technical file revision in advance, and strictly abide by the latest CE harmonized standard system.

We standardize product design, production testing and certification management, and provide global customers with fully compliant, stable and high-quality personal protective equipment. We will continue to optimize product safety performance and compliance system to create reliable PPE solutions for industrial workers worldwide.

7. Conclusion & Industry Suggestions

In summary, we have learned about some of the changes to the CE standards for personal protective equipment in 2026.The 2026 EU PPE standard revision and product classification upgrade are important regulatory adjustments in the European personal protection industry in recent years, which comprehensively affect product testing, certification paths, technical documents and CE marking qualifications.

PPE export enterprises are recommended to conduct internal compliance gap assessment as soon as possible, sort out high-risk product categories, update certification files in a timely manner, and reserve sufficient transition time to avoid market access risks caused by expired old standards and non-compliant certification.

Dursafety will continue to pay close attention to global PPE safety standard updates, adhere to strict quality control and compliance management, and provide standardized, safe and reliable protective equipment and professional services for global industrial safety construction.

Attachment: 2026 EU PPE Updated Standard Summary Table