Laws & Regulations

Being successful in the bike business in Europe requires detailed knowledge of European laws and regulations for bicycles and bike products. Anti-dumping and anti-circumvention duties, CEN safety standards or the Generalized System of Preferences can have a huge impact on the success of a business. Here Bike Europe provides a comprehensive list of the current legislation and trade regulations in place, and important definitions.

What are the key-issues and assumptions of legislative topics currently on the agenda at the European Commission and relevant for the industry? – Photo Shutterstock

The legislative framework governing the European bicycle industry explained

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“We urge the EU Commission to allocate resources to implementing robust market surveillance mechanisms,” write LEVA-EU. – Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

LEVA-EU urges shift in anti-dumping focus from tariffs to compliance

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The reaction to the EU's recent decision to extend the anti-dumping and countervailing measures against imports e-bike from China doesn't come near the heavy discussions six years ago when the measures were implemented for the first time. For that reason, LEVA-EU now draws attention to the cheap and non-compliant e-bike from China and the complex exemption processes for 'made in China' e-bike components.

Article 11 of the new battery regulation referring to removability and replaceability is applicable from 18 February 2027, 42 months after the new regulation came into force. - Photo Shutterstock
Battery Regulation

Guidelines issued on much-discussed 'Article 11' of European battery...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - When the new battery regulation came into place in August 2023, a lot of attention from the bicycle industry was given to 'Article 11' on repairability. The European Commission has now published guidelines to facilitate the introduction of this part of the regulation, and specifically the much-discussed topic of single-cell replacement.

Main stakeholders stated opposition to the proposed changes to e-bike legislation in the UK suggesting that it was unnecessary and lacked evidence to suggest that the stated aim, making e-bikes more attractive and accessible, would be achieved. - Photo Shutterstock
United Kingdom

EU e-bike legislation upheld in UK as proposed changes dismissed

LONDON, England - Following a public consultation process, the UK's Department for Transport has decided against implementing new legislation for e-bikes in the country. Under discussion were raising the maximum continuous power classification of e-bikes from 250 watts to 500 watts and allowing throttle assistance up to 25 km/h on e-bikes without the need for type approval.

The rates of the definitive anti-dumping and anti-countervailing duty imposed for the next five years varies per company. - Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

EU extends anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes for 5 years

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission announced this morning to maintain the anti-dumping as well as countervailing duties on e-bikes imported from China for another 5 years. The Commission has opted for the imposition of per company targeted dumping duties. The dumping duties vary from 9.9% for Giant Electric Vehicle up to 70.1% for a group of non-cooperative companies.

Key aspects of the FTA negotiations between the EU and Malaysia include discussions on tariffs, market access for goods and services, investment protection, intellectual property rights, and sustainable development. - Photo Shutterstock
Laws & regulations

EU-Malaysia FTA Talks: A boost for the bicycle industry?

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union and Malaysia will soon start negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) that could have a major impact on the bicycle industry. The Southeast Asian country is home to Shimano supplier Kwang Li Industry.

Arrests have been made as a result of four suspects structurally falsifying documents for bicycles being imported into Rotterdam, the Netherlands. – Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

Arrests made in Dutch anti-dumping probe into Chinese bicycles

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Four suspects have been arrested in The Netherlands on suspicion of large-scale customs fraud involving bicycles imported from China. The value of the alleged fraud is over €7 million.

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“We urge the EU Commission to allocate resources to implementing robust market surveillance mechanisms,” write LEVA-EU. – Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

LEVA-EU urges shift in anti-dumping focus from tariffs to compliance

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The reaction to the EU's recent decision to extend the anti-dumping and countervailing measures against imports e-bike from China doesn't come near the heavy discussions six years ago when the measures were implemented for the first time. For that reason, LEVA-EU now draws attention to the cheap and non-compliant e-bike from China and the complex exemption processes for 'made in China' e-bike components.

The rates of the definitive anti-dumping and anti-countervailing duty imposed for the next five years varies per company. - Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

EU extends anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes for 5 years

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission announced this morning to maintain the anti-dumping as well as countervailing duties on e-bikes imported from China for another 5 years. The Commission has opted for the imposition of per company targeted dumping duties. The dumping duties vary from 9.9% for Giant Electric Vehicle up to 70.1% for a group of non-cooperative companies.

Arrests have been made as a result of four suspects structurally falsifying documents for bicycles being imported into Rotterdam, the Netherlands. – Photo Shutterstock
Anti-dumping

Arrests made in Dutch anti-dumping probe into Chinese bicycles

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Four suspects have been arrested in The Netherlands on suspicion of large-scale customs fraud involving bicycles imported from China. The value of the alleged fraud is over €7 million.

The survey aims to find out how the anti-dumping duties on Chinese components have presented challenges for many European manufacturers and assemblers. - Photo Shutterstock
trade regulations

European e-bike industry invited to participate in anti-dumping survey

GENT, Belgium - Trade association LEVA-EU is inviting e-bike manufacturers and assemblers across Europe to participate in a newly launched survey. The survey is designed to gather insights on the impact of European anti-dumping duties on bicycle components imported from China, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of how these tariffs affect the industry's competitiveness, business operations, and market growth.

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blog

Blog: A fairly recent phenomenon - Fatbikes

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!

blog

Blog: Fuuuuuut!!!

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.

recalls

BLOG: Smartphones are the new cigarettes

Interesting news from Recall Land. The safety of Apple's iPhone 12 has come under scrutiny, as per findings from French regulatory authorities. Their testing revealed that this particular smartphone model did not comply with the legal limits set for radiation emissions. This news is notable not only for the reported safety issue, but perhaps even more so for the safety issues that went unreported.

blog

Blog: Online platforms become quasi-regulators

The rapid growth of e-commerce has transformed the way we shop, allowing us to purchase a wide range of products conveniently from online marketplaces. However, this convenience also brings certain risks, particularly when it comes to product safety.

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