News April 2026

In 2024, the European Union made significant changes to the EU product liability regime by amending the Product Liability Directive (“PLD”), to update it in light of technological and other developments. The EU and EFTA Member States, together with Northern Ireland, are required to transpose the revised PLD by the end of 2026. The law will then enter into application in product liability cases before judges throughout the EU, EFTA and Northern Ireland.

Roundtable in Brussels warns diverging implementations of the revised Product Liability Directive increase litigation risk and undermine EU competitiveness.

Brussels, 02 April 2026 - Senior business leaders, legal experts and policymakers warned at a Brussels roundtable on 24 March that inconsistent implementations of the revised Product Liability Directive (PLD) will fragment the Single Market, increase litigation risk and weaken Europe’s competitiveness unless the European Commission provides early guidance.