Virtual Exchange on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Certification for the European and Indian Market

Date: 8 December 2020

Time: 14:30 to 16:00 India Standard Time (IST) / 10:00 to 11:30 Central European Time (CET)

The availability of safe personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial – especially in times of a pandemic. Local production of PPE has grown significantly in India since March 2020. Compliance with the relevant legislative requirements is key for successfully selling PPE on the Indian and international market.

Manufacturers wanting to place their products on the EU market must comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/425. It defines the legal requirements to ensure that PPE available in the EU provides the highest level of protection against risks. CE marking is affixed to PPE by manufacturers to show compliance of the product with the applicable EU legislation.

In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards has developed standards and offers certification for certain PPE. The guidelines on specifications for PPE published by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the context of the current pandemic also include references to international and European standards and certification. CE marking is therefore crucial for manufactures looking to export to the EU but also relevant for the Indian market. The same is true for Indian procurement bodies.

The following questions will be discussed in the virtual exchange:

• How is PPE regulated in India and the EU?
• What is CE marking, and why is it relevant in the European and Indian context?
• What is the difference between regulation of PPE and medical devices in Europe?
• What are the requirements and testing procedures for PPE for the EU market?

Register below to discuss these questions with experts from BIS, the Central Authority of the German Federal States for Safety (ZLS) and TÜV Rheinland.

The event is jointly organised by BIS and GIZ – the German Agency for International Cooperation – under the framework of the Indo-German Working Group on Quality Infrastructure between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Indian Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD). The Working Group has the goal to reduce technical barriers to trade, strengthen product safety and enhance consumer protection through political dialogue of relevant ministries and regulators. As part of the Global Project Quality Infrastructure (GPQI), GIZ has been commissioned by BMWi to support the Working Group in India.