Answer given by Mr Breton on behalf of the European Commission
28.4.2021
1. The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the legal base for the compliance verification testing of the Smart Kids Belt (SKB) product is Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2018/858[1]. It provides the obligation for the Commission to organise and carry out tests and inspections, and to verify that vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units comply with the relevant requirements. Several EU Member States brought to the attention of the Commission services concerns regarding compliance of the product at stake.
2. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the Commission performed the regulatory tests to verify the compliance of the SKB product with the requirements under Regulation No 44 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The report was sent to the Polish type approval authority, which had previously approved the product, for further investigation. The final decision will be based on the legal and technical assessment of the compliance of the product with the regulatory requirements and the results of the regulatory tests of the JRC.
3. Under its market surveillance activities, the Commission can only check if products comply with the legal requirements. All child restraint systems on the EU market, which are approved under UNECE Regulation No 44[2], must meet the requirements of that regulation. The legislation does not foresee comparison studies of the performance levels of various products on the market.
The Commission would like to reassure the Honourable Member that all steps in the ongoing procedure have been taken in full transparency and close communication with the competent national authority and the economic operator concerned.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC (OJ L 151, 14.6.2018, p.1)
- [2] Regulation No 44 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of restraining devices for child occupants of power-driven vehicles (‘Child Restraint Systems’) [2020/1223] (OJ L 285, 1.9.2020, p.1)