EU helmet tests find only 30% fully compliant

EU helmet tests found only 30% of 100 sampled sports helmets were fully compliant with safety and formal requirements, the European Commission said on Thursday.

The EU-funded campaign checked 70 helmets for cyclists, skateboarders and roller-skaters and 30 for skiers and snowboarders. The Commission said 79% passed laboratory performance tests covering shock absorption, retention systems, durability and, for ski helmets, penetration resistance.

Formal checks raised broader concerns. The Commission said 65% of models failed markings or documentation requirements under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation, and 70% of products had at least one performance or formal non-compliance.

Market surveillance authorities in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands and Sweden sampled the helmets. Most were bought online, and the average price was EUR 56.

Authorities rated 18 of the failures as serious risk and reported them on Safety Gate, the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products. Five products were withdrawn from the market, sales bans were imposed on eight and 14 were recalled from consumers. Authorities are following up the remaining cases with economic operators.