Laws & Regulations

BRUSSELS, Belgium — "The legal equivalence with bicycles laid the strong foundation of the success of the e-bike," claimed German trade association ZIV earlier this year. At the same time, it proposed imposing additional technical restrictions on e-bikes and dividing e-bikes into two categories governed by separate legal frameworks. LEVA-EU refutes this claim in a response, calling it "unfounded" and has repeatedly called for the creation of a dedicated LEV regulatory framework instead of following a "narrow industrial agenda."

For many consumers, the e-bike isn't just a trend; it's a revolution in how they move. E-bikes are transforming people's lives, whether they're helping people to conquer city commutes, enjoy weekend adventures, or simply breeze through daily errands. But the landscape for e-bike batteries is about to change significantly, thanks to the new Battery Regulation 2023/1542 of the European Union.

WEXFORD, Ireland - Irish Customs Authorities have announced the seizure of over 4,000 e-bikes and a handful of e-scooters following targeted searches at two different warehouses in Ireland. According to authorities, the e-mobility vehicles - worth an estimated €4.5 million in retail value - were illegally imported to the European Union.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The industry is making preparations for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as this regulation will apply to the first relevant product category from 18 February 2027. At that time, its application will become mandatory for specific battery types.

ZEIST, the Netherlands - It's May as I write this blog, the time of year when cockchafers (May bugs) emerge from the ground en masse. This phenomenon is remarkable in itself, as the insect has been largely eradicated in most parts of the Netherlands due to pesticide use. Each time, it's a fascinating spectacle. After spending up to five years underground as larvae - being a persistent nuisance to my garden - they get to live above ground for just a few short weeks.

DELFT, the Netherlands - Cargo bikes and box bikes are now also getting their own European standard, following the example of similar standards set for bicycles, e-bikes and individual components. This should ensure, among other things, that cargo bikes' overall safety and quality are held to a high standard within Europe.

WEXFORD, Ireland - Irish Customs Authorities have announced the seizure of over 4,000 e-bikes and a handful of e-scooters following targeted searches at two different warehouses in Ireland. According to authorities, the e-mobility vehicles - worth an estimated €4.5 million in retail value - were illegally imported to the European Union.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Several European countries have been implicated in a new investigation of customs fraud in connection with disassembled Chinese-made e-bikes. Led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Portugal, 16 searches were conducted yesterday in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, in order to collect evidence in an investigation codenamed 'Pedelecs'.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - An investigation into suspected large-scale customs fraud related to the import of e-bikes from China is being led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In this latest case where the e-bikes are known to have entered the EU via Poland, the unpaid duties add up to an estimated loss of €1.8 million.

LONDON, UK - The UK Government has accepted the recommendation to revoke anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Chinese non-folding e-bikes to the UK. The measure which came into force from 7 February 2025 will open the market to cheaper e-bikes.

As the dust settles after December 13, 2024 - of course you all know by now that's the date when the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect - numerous ambiguities remain. Flaws, gaps, and even loopholes are crying out for more clarity. At the time of writing this blog, we are still awaiting the European Commission's guidance document, which is expected to provide some of this much-needed clarity.

Once upon a time, back when I was just a young lad, there was a song my brothers and I occasionally heard on the radio - a song that seemed to cast a spell over us. We didn't know what it was about, nor could we name the band, but something about it was almost magical. And this was before we'd even seen the music video! That song became iconic - a symbol of our youth - resonating with us deeply despite remaining a mystery for years.

I'm writing this blog while sitting on a train to Amsterdam. Once I arrive and walk to my destination, I'll need to watch out for a fairly recent phenomenon: fatbikes. I live in a quiet little village, so I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. But whenever I come to Amsterdam, I suddenly understand the alarming Dutch news headlines much better. These things can be dangerous!

As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs, the upcoming General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is food for many more blogs to come. It contains many provisions that go far beyond the current EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). In this blog, I would like to draw attention to a new obligation that is introduced in the GPSR: accident reporting.