Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR) has called on the European Commission to amend EU rules on personal protective equipment (PPE) to better protect rescue and emergency workers facing rising violence, including deliberate attacks in conflict zones. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 22 June 2026, Tynkkynen argues that current legislation leaves emergency responders without adequate access to bulletproof vests and helmets, as a derogation for military and law enforcement PPE does not cover them.
The question targets Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which sets EU requirements for PPE. The regulation includes a derogation for PPE designed for armed forces or law and order maintenance, exempting it from CE marking obligations. Tynkkynen points out that rescue and emergency workers are excluded from this derogation, limiting their ability to use protective gear suited for high-risk interventions such as shootings, stabbings, and bombings. He specifically references the heightened dangers exposed by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, where emergency responders have been deliberately targeted.
whether it intends to amend the regulation to extend the derogation to cover PPE for rescue and emergency services, and what the timeframe would be for such an urgent update. The question does not propose specific numerical targets or deadlines but frames the amendment as an urgent safety measure.
The policy direction is toward broadening the scope of the existing derogation to include emergency workers, which would ease regulatory requirements for PPE manufacturers supplying this sector. This could lower barriers to providing advanced protective equipment like ballistic vests and helmets, but may also raise concerns about quality assurance if CE marking is not required.
Under EU rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive sees a need to revise the regulation and how quickly it might act. The issue primarily affects emergency service workers, national authorities responsible for their safety, PPE manufacturers, and EU regulatory bodies overseeing market surveillance. A potential trade-off exists between faster access to specialised protective gear and maintaining uniform safety standards across the EU.