The EU has harmonised the differing national legislations in the Member States for gas appliances guaranteeing free movement of these products in the internal market while ensuring a high level of safety.
The European legal framework has improved market conditions in this sector, which is of economic importance in terms of turnover, trade and jobs.
The following legal instrument is currently in force: Gas Appliances Directive 2009/142/EC (GAD).
Voluntary European harmonised standards developed by CEN and CENELEC support this Directive. Compliance with those voluntary standards produces presumption of conformity, simplifying the application of the legislation. Those standards are continuously adapted to technical progress.
In order to carry out the management and ensure the correct implementation of the Directive, the Commission convenes meetings of the relevant Committees with Member States’ representatives and the main stakeholders and in meetings of conformity assessment bodies notified under the Directive.
The Commission deals with notifications of safeguard clauses and with complaints concerning noncompliant and unsafe products.