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ARTICLE · 04 JUNE 2026

Navigating the Evolving Product Liability Landscape. Part 1 - Key Changes under the New Directive

Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace
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Dillon Eustace

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The European Union's Product Liability Directive, unchanged for four decades, is undergoing a comprehensive transformation to address modern challenges including digital products, AI systems, and global supply chains.

IrelandConsumer Protection
Cillian Bredin
Cillian Bredin
Elaine Healy
Elaine Healy
Jane Rigby
Jane Rigby
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After 40 years, the existing Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC is set to be replaced by the new Product Liability Directive (New Directive). The New Directive entered into force on 8 December 2024 and EU Member States are required to transpose it into national law by 9 December 2026. It will apply only to products placed on the market or put into circulation on or after that date and will not have retrospective effect.

The New Directive seeks to provide claimants with increased legal protection and certainty. It is also set to modernise the existing product liability framework so that it may function efficiently in the digital age and to make the framework fit for a global value chain.

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