UOKiK (Poland): 3 of 10 models of high-visibility vests and jackets failed laboratory tests at ITS — coefficient of retroreflection of new material, and colour and luminance factor of the background material after light exposure (EN ISO 20471, EN 17353)
From July to September 2026 the Polish Trade Inspection (regional inspectorates in Gdańsk, Kielce, Warsaw and Wrocław) checked 10 models of high-visibility clothing — 6 vests and 4 jackets, including cycling jackets — and experts from the Motor Transport Institute (ITS) tested all of them in the laboratory. UOKiK published the results on 6 November 2026.
- ITS experts tested the coefficient of retroreflection of new material (responsible for visibility at night in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle — the lower it is, the shorter the distance from which the wearer can be seen), the colour and luminance factor of the background material (daytime visibility) and the resistance of the background material to light exposure, i.e. colour fading during normal use.
- The assessment criteria were the harmonised standards PN-EN ISO 20471:2013-07 “High visibility clothing — Test methods and requirements” (or the edition with amendment A1:2017) and PN-EN 17353+A1:2025-12 “Protective clothing — Enhanced visibility equipment for medium risk situations — Test methods and requirements” (or the edition PN-EN 17353:2021-01).
- The laboratory tests failed 3 of 10 models — 2 vests and 1 jacket: too low a coefficient of retroreflection of the separate-performance retroreflective material when new (1 vest and 1 jacket), non-conforming colour of the background material after the light exposure test (2 vests) and too low a luminance factor of the background material after that test (1 vest).
- One of the failed vests had several non-conformities at once — according to the list of inspected products (status as of 15.10.2026) also the luminance factor of the background material already when new. The other 7 models conformed both in the tests and in marking and documentation.
- The formal requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (CE marking, declaration of conformity, EU type-examination certificate issued by a notified body, technical documentation, manufacturer or importer details, instructions in Polish) were not met by 1 model: a vest without an EU declaration of conformity — the same one that failed the background colour test after light exposure.
- The inspection covered 1 retail shop, 4 hypermarkets and 5 wholesalers; the vests came from China (5 models) or from an unidentified country (1), the jackets from China (3) and Poland (1). For the 3 models, requests to open proceedings were sent to the President of UOKiK — placing a non-compliant product on the market carries a fine of up to PLN 100,000, missing CE marking up to PLN 20,000 and each formal non-conformity up to PLN 10,000.
Source: UOKiK — In the spotlight! High-visibility vests and jackets – Trade Inspection check (06.11.2026)