Czechia: defects in 45 of 100 inspected types of reflective vests, and in laboratory tests none of the three children’s vests met the standard
On 16 September 2026 the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) published the results of its checks of reflective vests for adults and children as personal protective equipment. In 91 inspections it examined 100 product types and found deficiencies in 45; 7 samples were tested by an accredited laboratory.
- Reflective vests that declare a protective function are category II personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425: before they are placed on the market, a notified body issues an EU type-examination certificate on the basis of laboratory tests, which underpins the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity and the CE marking.
- The laboratory tests of 4 adult vests and 3 children’s vests focused mainly on the fluorescent and retroreflective properties of the materials and their durability. One adult vest and all three children’s vests failed the requirements of the standard: insufficient fluorescence of the background material, insufficient retroreflection of the warning elements, or their inadequate area and placement were found; in one case the risk was assessed as serious.
- Formal deficiencies: 6 types without CE marking, 34 without identification of the manufacturer or importer and 8 without a serial number or model; for 29% of products the EU declaration of conformity, or the web address where it is available, was missing, and instructions were deficient or absent in 45 cases. ČOI imposed 28 final fines totalling CZK 204,500 and banned the distribution of 16 product types worth CZK 60,683.42; checks of this product range will be repeated.
- According to ČOI, adult vests most often refer to EN ISO 20471 and children’s vests to EN 17353. The latter covers enhanced visibility equipment for medium-risk situations and sets requirements for colour, retroreflection, minimum areas and placement of materials. In the EVS catalogue the current version is EN 17353:2020+A1:2025; the 2020 edition without the amendment was withdrawn on 15 July 2025, but according to EVS it keeps its presumption of conformity with Regulation 2016/425 until a corresponding amendment is published in the Official Journal of the EU.