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This document provides a guide to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No 1803).

Its purpose is to help users of the Regulations understand their main features and the circumstances in which they apply.

Those affected by the Regulations should refer to them for a full statement of the legal requirements, and in case of doubt seek legal advice on questions of interpretation.

Achieving the free movement of goods lies at the heart of achieving an open market for business in Europe.

'New Approach' Directives set out 'essential requirements', written in general terms, which must be met before products may be supplied in the United Kingdom or anywhere else in the Community.

The Directives also say how manufacturers are to show that products meet the 'essential requirements'. Products meeting the requirements are to carry CE marking, which should mean that they can be supplied anywhere in the Community.

The Machinery Directive 89/392/EEC, as amended by Directives 91/368/EEC, 93/44/EEC and 93/68/EEC is such a Directive.

The Directives also state how manufacturers should demonstrate that products meet the 'Essential Requirements'. Products meeting these requirements carry CE marking, which means they can be sold anywhere in the European Union.

The Low Voltage Directive is one such Directive. It has been implemented into (consolidated) United Kingdom law by the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 which came into force, subject to certain transitional provisions, on 9 January 1995.

The rest of this booklet describes the Regulations.

The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive has also been extended by the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement that came into force on 1 January 1994. Under the Agreement the provisions of the Directive now apply across the twenty-five Member States of the European Union and the states of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

Essential health and safety requirements: equipment, protective systems and safety devices must satisfy the relevant essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex C.

Small quantities of dangerous goods can be found in most workplaces. Whatever they are used for, the storage and use of such goods can pose a serious hazard unless basic safety principles are followed. If you use one particular group of dangerous goods - flammable and explosive substances
- this leaflet will help you to:

• be aware of the hazards of various types of flammable substance;
• be aware of the basic standards which apply to safe handling and storage of flammable substances;
• introduce procedures to prevent accidents and protect people from the hazards of flammable substances;
• find more detailed information when you need it.

General Requirements
Subject to the exclusions described below, the PER make it an offence for a ‘responsible person’ (see page 6) to place on the market, put into service or otherwise supply pressure equipment and assemblies above specified pressure/ volume thresholds unless:

• they are safe;
• they meet essential safety requirements covering design, manufacture and testing;
• they satisfy appropriate conformity assessment procedures and are accompanied by a declaration of conformity; and
• they carry the CE marking and other information in English.

The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 made a number of changes to the 1991 Regulations, in particular, to bring the conformity procedures and marking arrangements into line with those for a number of other products. The amending Regulations entered into force on 1 January 1995.

• _ most simple pressure vessels with a stored energy of over 50 bar.litres, including imports, when supplied in the United Kingdom must:

_ meet the essential safety requirements;
_ have safety clearance (which involves checking by an approved body);
_ bear CE marking and other specified inscriptions;
_ be accompanied by manufacturer's instructions;
_ be safe.

• _ most simple pressure vessels with a stored energy of up to 50 bar. litres, including imports, when supplied in the United Kingdom must:

_ be manufactured in accordance with engineering practice recognised as sound in a country within the European Economic Area (EEA);
_ bear specified inscriptions (but not CE marking);
_ be safe.

Directive 93/68/EEC (‘the CE marking Directive’) was adopted on 22 July 1993, its purpose being to introduce a harmonised set of rules relating to the affixing and use of CE marking.

This brought about amendments to the Gas Appliances Directive which were implemented into consolidated national law through the GAS APPLIANCES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1995 (‘the Regulations’) (SI 1995/ 1629), made under section 11(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (‘the Act’) and section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

The provisions of the Directive were implemented into United Kingdom law by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989, which came into force on 1 January 1990. These Regulations have been revoked and replaced by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995. The rest of this booklet describes those Regulations.

These Regulations were made on 10 December 1992 and came into effect on 1 January 1993. They have since been amended three times by the Personal Protective Equipment (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/3074), the Personal Protective Equipment (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/2326), and the Personal Protective Equipment (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/3039)

Design and Construction of Craft
Recreational craft intended for sports and leisure purposes, regardless of the means of propulsion, and measuring between 2.5 and 24 metres in hull length, personal watercraft less than 4 metres in length, partly completed recreational craft, and the components specified in Schedule 2 to the Regulations, whether constructed in or imported into the United Kingdom, may only be placed on the market in the United Kingdom and put into service for use if they meet the essential safety requirements (ESRs) set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.