Eurosmart’s position paper on the Product Liability Directive

07 Jul 2020 Eurosmart’s position paper on the Product Liability Directive

 The Product Liability Directive has proven its value during the past three decades to ensure the victims’ right to compensation, even without fault on the part of the producer (strict liability). This directive oversees major aspects of the European Single Market; it complements the safety requirements for placing a product on the market with the right to compensation in case a product is still defective, i.e if does not provide the safety which a person is entitled to expect. Today, this approach is challenged by the emergence of new technologies, and security-related concerns.

Eurosmart believes that the current directive is well designed and adapted to these new technologies and challenges. Nevertheless, as explained during meetings of the Commission’s Expert Group on Liability and New Technologies, the current version of the text will be recast. In this new context, Eurosmart would like to raise a few points that would improve the effectiveness of the Product Liability Directive. This document (below) is meant to provide additional guidance for the work of the Expert Group.