{"id":1053,"date":"2026-08-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/declaer.com\/safety-glasses-after-the-ban-what-rules-still-apply\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T14:51:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T14:51:18","slug":"safety-glasses-after-the-ban-what-rules-still-apply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/declaer.com\/en\/safety-glasses-after-the-ban-what-rules-still-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety glasses after the ban: what rules still apply?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What the ban means<\/h2>\n\n

On August 1, 2026, the national ban on consumer fireworks came into effect. The sale and ignition by private individuals are no longer permitted. Light fireworks from category F1, such as sparklers, remain allowed. This also applies to licensed fireworks shows. <\/p>\n\n

For those who sold protective equipment around the New Year, the market is therefore changing significantly. Consumer demand is largely disappearing. Demand from professionals and show organizers remains. <\/p>\n\n

The reason for this legislation is evident in the figures. During the 2025-2026 New Year period, VeiligheidNL registered 1,239 fireworks victims at emergency departments and out-of-hours GP clinics. Approximately one-third of these involved eye injuries. <\/p>\n\n

Why eye protection is Category II<\/h2>\n\n

The Personal Protective Equipment Regulation divides risks into three categories. Category I includes only minimal risks. Category III concerns risks with very serious consequences. Protection against flying particles falls into neither category and is therefore Category II. <\/p>\n\n

This has a direct consequence for your process. For Category II, the regulation prescribes an EU-type examination, Module B, carried out by a notified body. This is followed by conformity to type based on internal production control, Module C. <\/p>\n\n

Self-declaration is therefore not permitted. Anyone placing eye protection on the market without a type examination is selling a product that is not allowed to bear the marking, regardless of the quality of the lens. <\/p>\n

\n\tCategory I is narrower than people think<\/b>\n\t

Category I includes exclusively minimal risks, including superficial mechanical injury and damage to the eyes due to exposure to sunlight. Sunglasses therefore fall under this category. As soon as you claim protection against impact, you are in Category II and a notified body is mandatory. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

The difference with novelty glasses<\/h2>\n\n

Glasses with lights or colored plastic offered as protective are different from genuine protective equipment. As soon as you claim a protective effect, the product is assessed as personal protective equipment, with the corresponding procedure and documentation. <\/p>\n\n

This is not just a paperwork issue. Unsuitable material can splinter upon impact and actually increase the injury. The claim therefore makes the product both legally and physically risky. <\/p>\n\n

If you wish to sell a novelty item, avoid any suggestion of protection in the name, images, and product descriptions. This is a choice you make in your listing, not in your technical file. <\/p>\n\n

The standards behind the assessment<\/h2>\n\n

EN 166 is the core standard for personal eye protection. It establishes the requirements and links them to markings that must appear on the frame and the lens. The EN 167 standard describes the associated optical test methods. <\/p>\n\n

The marking on the glasses then indicates what the product is capable of. Among other things, it specifies the level of impact for which the lens has been tested. If that marking is missing or does not match the report, it will be immediately noticed during an inspection. <\/p>\n

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Do you sell eye protection?<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t

Please let us know which product it concerns and what documentation you have. We will contact you regarding what is required. <\/p>\n\t\n\t\n

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