Product Liability Directive 1985
The Product Liability Directive is a directive of the Council of the European Communities which created a regime of strict liability for defective products applicable in all member states of the European Union, the other EEA members and the United Kingdom.
Background
A system of strict product liability had developed in the U.S. by the early 1960s, but not in the countries of the then European Economic Community. The Council adopted a resolution in 1975 for a preliminary programme on consumer protection and information technology. Moves towards a strict liability regime in Europe began with the Council of Europe Convention on Products Liability in regard to Personal Injury and Death in 1977. The Pearson Commission in the UK noted that this work had started, and refrained from making their own recommendations. A second EU programme followed in 1981.The preamble to the directive cites Art. 100 of the Treaty of Rome and the aim to achieve a single market:
The preamble then goes on:
Content
Articles 1 to 12 create a scheme of strict product liability for damage arising from defective products. This liability is in addition to any existing rights that consumers enjoy under domestic law.The directive does not extend to nuclear accidents, these being covered by existing international conventions. The original directive did not extend to game or primary agricultural produce but this exception was repealed by directive 1999/34/EC following concerns over BSE.
Development risks defence
Article 15 of the directive gives member states the option of adopting the development risks defence:, all EU member states other than Finland and Luxembourg had taken advantage of it to some extent.
Implementation by state
Because EU directives do not have direct effect, they only come into force on persons in member states when implemented in national legislation. Article 19 demanded implementation within 3 years.| Member state | Means of implementation | Date of implementation | Comments |
| Belgium | Loi du 25/02/1991 relative à la responsabilité du fait des produits défectueux - Wet van 25/02/1991 betreffende de aansprakelijkheid voor produkten met gebreken. Moniteur belge du 22/03/1991 Page 5884 | 25 February 1991 | |
| Czech Republic | 1. Zákon o odpovědnosti za škodu způsobenou vadou výrobku 2. Zákon, kterým se mění zákon č. 59/1998 Sb., o odpovědnosti za škodu způsobenou vadou výrobku | ? | |
| Denmark | Lov nr. 371 af 07/06/1989 om produktansvar. Justitsmin.L.A. 1988-46002-11. Lovtidende A haefte 58 udgivet den 09/06/1989 s.1260. JLOV | 9 June 1989 | |
| Estonia | Võlaõigusseadus | ? | |
| France | Act 98-389, Arts 1386-1 to 1386-18 of the Civil Code | 19 May 1998 | |
| Germany | Produkthaftungsgesetz | 15 December 1989 | |
| Republic of Ireland | Liability for Defective Products Act 1991 | 4 December 1991 | |
| The Netherlands | Wet van 13 September 1990 houdende aanpassing van het Burgerlijk Wetboek aan de richtlijn van de Raad van de Europese Gemeenschappen inzake de aansprakelijkheid voor produkten met gebreken | 1 November 1990 | |
| United Kingdom | Consumer Protection Act 1987 | 1 March 1988 |
Review
Article 21 demanded that the Commission report to the Council on the application of the directive every five years.| Date | Reference | Principal recommendations |
| 12 December 1995 | COM/95/617 final | - |
| 9 February 2000 | COM/2000/0893 final | Consultation of the basis of a Green Paper was carried out before the review. No changes to directive but recommendations on further data gathering and expert review |
| 14 September 2006 | COM/2006/0496 final | - |