Every EN 17353 product placed on the EU market needs an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC): a short, signed document in which the manufacturer takes responsibility for the product’s compliance with the PPE Regulation. Importers and retailers are regularly asked for it by customers and market surveillance authorities. A missing or sloppy DoC can stop a shipment even when the product itself is fine.
This guide explains what an EN 17353 DoC must contain and how to deliver it to users.
What the DoC must contain
Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 sets the model structure:
| # | Content | Example for an EN 17353 product |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PPE identification: product, type, batch or serial number | Reflective slap wrap, model RW-30, Type B2 |
| 2 | Name and address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, the authorised representative | Full legal name and postal address |
| 3 | Statement of sole responsibility | “This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.” |
| 4 | Object of the declaration, allowing traceability | Description, colour variants, may include a photo |
| 5 | Conformity statement with the relevant Union legislation | Regulation (EU) 2016/425 |
| 6 | Harmonised standards or other specifications used, with dates | EN 17353:2020+A1:2025; EN ISO 13688 for garments |
| 7 | Notified body name and number, procedure and certificate | EU type-examination (Module B), certificate number |
| 8 | Additional information | For example the conformity procedure for production (Module C) |
| — | Signed for and on behalf of: place, date, name, function, signature | Authorised signatory |
1. Who issues it
The manufacturer issues and signs the DoC, meaning the company whose name is on the product. An importer who puts its own brand on the product becomes the manufacturer in law and must issue its own DoC, backed by its own technical file and certificate. Importers selling another company’s brand must check that the manufacturer has issued a DoC and keep a copy.
2. Getting the details right for EN 17353
- Edition. Cite the edition you were certified to, for example EN 17353:2020+A1:2025. If your certificate is to EN 17353:2020, the DoC must say so.
- Type. Name the EN 17353 type (A, B1, B2, B3, AB2 or AB3). Customers and authorities use it to check the marking and pictogram.
- Models. List every model and colour the certificate covers, and no others.
- Certificate. Quote the notified body’s name, its four-digit identification number and the EU type-examination certificate number.
3. Delivering the DoC to users
The Regulation requires the DoC to accompany the PPE, or the user instructions to include the internet address where it can be accessed. Most brands of small items such as reflectors and arm bands use the web-address option: a short URL or QR code in the leaflet pointing to the DoC. The DoC must be available in the languages required by the member states where the product is sold.
4. Common DoC mistakes
- Citing the old standards EN 1150 or EN 13356, withdrawn since 2023.
- Citing the withdrawn PPE Directive 89/686/EEC instead of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
- Model names that do not match the certificate or the label.
- No notified body number, or the number of the testing laboratory instead of the notified body.
- Unsigned, undated, or signed by someone without authority.
- A web link in the instructions that no longer works.
5. Keep it alive
A DoC is a living document. Update it when the standard edition changes, the certificate is renewed (EU type-examination certificates last at most five years), models are added, or the manufacturer’s address changes. Keep it with the technical documentation for ten years after the last product is placed on the market.
FAQ
Is the DoC the same as the certificate?
No. The notified body issues the EU type-examination certificate. The manufacturer issues the DoC, which refers to that certificate.
Do I need a separate DoC for the UK?
For UKCA, a UK Declaration of Conformity referencing UK legislation and the UK approved body is used.
Can one DoC cover several products?
Yes, if all products are identified clearly and covered by the cited certificate or certificates.
Conclusion
An EN 17353 Declaration of Conformity is short, but every line matters: the right Regulation, the right edition and type, matching model names, and the notified body certificate. Keep it accurate, reachable online and up to date, and it will answer most compliance questions before they are asked.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Check the current text of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and confirm details with your notified body.