Topic summary

Product Liability Directive 1985

Product Liability Directive 1985

The Product Liability Directive85/374/EEC is a directive of the Council of the European Communities (now the European Union) which created a regime of strict liability for defective products applicable in all member states of the European Union, the other EEA members (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the United Kingdom. Directive 1999/34/EC amended the 1985 directive.

The directive will be replaced by Directive (EU) 2024/2853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on liability for defective products and repealing Council Directive 85/374/EEC (Text with EEA relevance) for products coming on the market after 8 December 2026.