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ARTICLE · 27 NOVEMBER 2025

Expanded Product Liability In Europe: A New EU Directive

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As EU Member States, including Germany, begin implementing the EU PLD, companies operating in these markets should consider compliance strategies that reflect the broader scope of liability for defective products, including software and technology, sold in the EU.

European UnionConsumer Protection
Jay Bhimani
Jay Bhimani
Douglas E. Fleming III
Douglas E. Fleming III
Katherine Unger Davis
Katherine Unger Davis

Key Takeaways

As EU Member States, including Germany, begin implementing the EU PLD, companies operating in these markets should consider compliance strategies that reflect the broader scope of liability for defective products, including software and technology, sold in the EU.

In October 2024, the European Union adopted the Product Liability Directive (EU) 2024/2853 ("EU PLD"), requiring Member States to implement the new EU product liability regime by December 9, 2026. See Directive 2024/2853 of the European Parliament and of the Council, art. 32, 2024 O.J. (L) 18.11.2024 (EU). Among other changes, the EU PLD aims to address "shortcomings"in how the previous product liability regime applied to emerging technologies and digital environments.

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