The Guide to the implementation of Directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach (the “Blue Guide”) was first published in 2000. Since then, it has become one of the main reference documents explaining how to implement the legislation based on the New Approach, now covered by the New Legislative Framework.

In order to take into account the new developments in the New Legislative Framework for the marketing of products and the Lisbon Treaty for its legal references and terminology, the Blue Guide was under revision until March 2014. The new Blue Guide includes new chapters, for example on the obligations of economic operators or accreditation, or completely revised chapters such as those on standardisation or market surveillance. The new Blue Guide is a living document, meaning that it will be continuously updated to take into account the latest regulatory developments. It is available in English on the European Union's website.

The Blue Guide is designed to contribute to a better understanding of EU product rules and to their more uniform and coherent application across different sectors and throughout the Single Market. It is addressed to the Member States and others who need to be informed of the provisions designed to ensure the free circulation of products as well as a high level of protection throughout the Union (e.g. trade and consumer associations, standardisation bodies, manufacturers, importers, distributors, conformity assessment bodies and trade unions).

CECED is committed to a well-functioning internal EU market for industrial goods, to a uniform implementation of the NLF, and to reduce administrative burdens for economic operators as much as possible. As part of the Blue Guide stakeholder group, CECED has actively engaged with the European Commission to ensure the updated Blue Guide was completed in a comprehensive manner, taking into account our members concerns.

Blue Guide on the implementation of product rules 2014
 

For further information, please contact Michał Zakrzewski  or Sanne Goossens.