Technical regulations and rules on bicycles in the European Union
Last reviewed: December 2022
European Union bicycle regulations
The European Union has a set of technical regulations and directives that govern the sale of bicycles in its member countries. These regulations aim to ensure the quality and safety of these vehicles, as well as protect consumers and promote sustainability in their use.
One of the main regulations is the Bicycle Safety Directive, which sets out the technical requirements that bicycles must meet before being marketed. These requirements include the strength and stability of the frame, proper functioning of the brakes, visibility of reflective elements, and the approval of each of the components.
At Tuvalum, we take our certification process very seriously. That is why we make sure that the bicycles we refurbish comply with the same technical processes and regulations that the European Union requires of new bicycle manufacturers.
General Product Safety Directive (GPSD, 2011/95/EC)
The General Product Safety Directive (GPSD, 2011/95/EC) is a European Union regulation aimed at ensuring the safety of products sold in EU member countries. This directive establishes a legal framework and a series of technical requirements that products must meet to guarantee their safety in use, handling, and disposal.
The GPSD establishes the responsibility of manufacturers and distributors to ensure that their bicycles comply with these safety requirements.
If they do not meet the requirements, manufacturers and distributors may be sanctioned and their bicycles withdrawn from the market. The GPSD also establishes the obligation to monitor and report defective or dangerous bicycles, as well as the obligation to withdraw from the market those bicycles that do not meet safety requirements.
EN ISO 4210 on safety requirements for bicycles
EN ISO 4210 is a technical standard developed by the ISO/TC 149 Technical Committee that sets the minimum safety requirements that bicycles must meet before being placed on the market. This regulation is part of the European Union Bicycle Safety Directive. It consists of a set of technical requirements that bicycles must comply with, including the strength and stability of the frame, proper functioning of the brakes, and visibility of reflective elements. This regulation also includes requirements such as impact and wear resistance.
This directive consists of 9 sections. The first specifies the definition of the different categories of bicycles according to their use. The second section refers to safety requirements for city, trekking, children's, road, and mountain bicycles. Sections 3 to 9 specify the methodology manufacturers must follow to test the safety of the different systems that make up the bicycle.
Specifically, this standard focuses on braking systems (ISO 4210-4), steering and handlebars (ISO 4210-5), frame and fork (ISO 4210-6), wheels (ISO 4210-7), pedals and transmission system (ISO 4210-8), and saddles and seat posts (ISO 4210-9).
Directive 168/2013 on electric bicycles
This regulation harmonizes all the technical requirements that electric bicycles marketed in the European Union must meet regarding safety (Regulation 3/2014), components (Regulation 44/2014), and environmental impact (Regulation 134/2014).
In principle, all bicycles with electric assistance motors are subject to approval according to the provisions of Regulation 168/2013, the three complementary technical regulations, and the administrative implementation regulation.
For approval, Regulation 168/2013 classifies electric vehicles into four different categories, depending on their speed limit, power limit, and number of wheels (including tricycles here). The main innovation is the creation of the L1e-A category, which harmonizes the technical regulation of electric bicycles, both pedelecs and e-bikes, with a speed limit of 25 km/h and a power limit of superior at 250W with a maximum of 1kW.
This regulation is developed through standards EN 15194, EN 14764, ISO 4210, EN 50604.
Section 4.2.4 of the EN 15194 standard on electric batteries states that both integrated and external battery chargers for e-bikes limited to 25 km/h and 250W must be tested according to a series of regulated technical requirements.
Therefore, manufacturers wishing to comply with the EN 15194 standard must supply their electric bicycles with chargers that meet this directive, providing the required technical documentation and carrying out an evaluation procedure as described in Annex III of the Directive.
The product must mention a type, batch, or serial number and indicate their contact information. The charger must be accompanied by instructions and safety information in the consumer's language. If your product complies with the Directive, you must apply the CE marking.
Directive 2006/66/EC on electric batteries
The European Union has implemented legislation to ensure the collection and recycling of both batteries and vehicles. Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries applies to all electric bicycles and aims to guarantee the safety of using batteries that are part of the electric assistance system of e-bikes.
This directive also regulates the collection, recycling, treatment, and disposal of electric batteries at the European level, since they may contain metals such as zinc, copper, manganese, lithium, and nickel, which pose a risk to the environment and human health if disposed of incorrectly.
The marketing of most batteries and accumulators with a certain content of mercury or cadmium is also prohibited. The Directive applies to all batteries and therefore also includes lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that are commonly used in electric bicycles. These are classified as "industrial batteries" and cannot be incinerated or disposed of in landfills.
Below are some of the specific measures that apply to industrial batteries described in the previous paragraph:
- Electric bicycles with batteries whose manufacturers are not registered in the national registry of all member states where such batteries are marketed may not be sold. If, for example, the manufacturer of an electric bicycle battery or the manufacturer of the electric bicycle or its representative is not registered at the national level, the distributor will be considered the producer of the battery and will be held responsible for the collection, treatment, and recycling of the waste.
- Industrial batteries must be easily removable from electric bicycles. If the battery is integrated into the bicycle, it must be accompanied by instructions indicating how it can be safely removed and who is the most suitable person to do so.
- Batteries must be labeled with a crossed-out wheeled bin and
chemical symbols indicating the heavy metal content of the battery.
- All collected industrial batteries must be recycled. The batteries from electric bicycles cannot be disposed of in landfills or incinerated.
Tuvalum Team
