This week, the focus is less on completely new laws and more on implementation and transition issues: harmonised standards under ATEX, the (imminent) integration of IEC standards, and longer transition periods for CE/UKEX for Ex equipment. For a web shop such as atex-shop.de, changes to harmonised standards and labelling requirements are particularly relevant because they directly affect product texts, certificates and declarations of conformity.sgs+5
1. Explosion-proof devices & standards
The new EN 14983:2024 for mine gas extraction equipment is recognised as a harmonised standard under the ATEX Directive; the old EN 14983:2007 will be withdrawn on 1 October 2026, which will affect product portfolios in the mining sector in the medium term.
At the same time, the market for ex-proof testing and certification services is growing steadily (forecast to grow by around 3.5% annually until 2032), indicating more testing and stricter conformity requirements in the supply chain.intelmarketresearch
2. IEC 60079-11 Ed.7 & ATEX
The revised standard IEC 60079-11 Ed.7 (intrinsic safety "Ex i") is technically complete but not yet fully harmonised with the ATEX Directive because some annexes are missing; harmonisation is expected by the end of 2025.sgs
For manufacturers, this means that new developments can already be based on Ed.7 from a technical perspective, but from a legal standpoint, the harmonised previous version will remain authoritative for EU compliance until the EU officially adds the new edition to the list.ibf-solutions+1
3. ATEX Directive & harmonised standards
The EU continues to maintain the list of harmonised standards for the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU via implementing decisions; in 2025, there were amendments to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1668, which update specific lists of standards.single-market-economy.europa+1
As a retailer, it is crucial for you to check whether certificates for new products explicitly refer to currently harmonised standards in order to avoid subsequent discussions with market surveillance authorities or customers.ibf-solutions
4. ATEX, UKEX and CE marking
In the United Kingdom, recognition of EU conformity (including CE marking) remains extended indefinitely for many product groups, while UKEX is being established as a long-term system for potentially explosive atmospheres.gov+1
At the same time, extended concessions apply to ex-devices with regard to UKCA/UKEX labelling and importer labelling until at least 2027, which currently makes exporting to the UK somewhat more pragmatic, but clearly shifts the strategic focus towards UKEX.hazeng+1
5. Broader ATEX trends (market & technology)
ATEX remains the central European regulatory framework for equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres; market analyses predict that the global Ex equipment market will be worth around USD 9–10 billion by the mid-2020s, with further growth expected.roboticstomorrow+2
Technologically, modular certification concepts (e.g. basic module + certified add-on units) and automated solutions such as ATEX/IECEx robots are gaining in importance, as they reduce the effort required for adaptation and recertification while opening up new applications in the chemical, oil & gas and hydrogen industries.tls-containers+1