§8.2 Limits and restrictions

The Union harmonisation legislation is designed to ensure free movement of products that comply with the high level of protection laid down in the applicable legislation. Therefore, Member States may not prohibit, restrict or impede the making available of such products for the aspects covered by the applicable Union harmonisation legislation. However, Member States are allowed to maintain or adopt, in compliance with the Treaty (in particular Articles 34 and 36 TFEU), additional national provisions regarding the use of particular products which are intended for the protection of workers or other users, or the environment. Such national provisions may neither require modification of a product manufactured in accordance with the provisions of the applicable legislation, nor influence the conditions for making it available. A limitation to the free movement of product might be imposed in the case of non-compliance of a product with the essential or other legal requirements. Besides that, it may be the case that products complying with the requirements of harmonised legislation present, nonetheless, a risk to the health or safety of persons or to other aspects of public interest protection. In this case, Member States must require the relevant economic operator to take corrective actions. It is possible, therefore, to limit the free movement of a product not only in case of non-compliance of the product with the requirements set up by the relevant legislation but also in the case of compliance when the essential or other requirements do not entirely cover all of the risks related to the product. (318)

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07