Personal Protective Equipment is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and is classified into 3 categories: 

• The 1st category includes PPE of simple design intended to protect the person from the risk of minor physical damage.
• The third category is complex design PPE designed to protect against the risk of death or serious injury of a permanent nature.
• IPR which do not belong to the 2nd category belong to the above two categories.

The EC type examination certificate is the document in which the Notified Body certifies that a model of PPE has been manufactured in compliance with the relevant regulations and therefore complies with the essential health and safety requirements of Annex II of the Regulation. The EC type-examination includes the assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the PPE through examination of the technical documentation, as well as the examination of a complete sample of PPE, representative of the production envisaged (type of production).

The procedures for EC type-examination certificate and production surveillance must be carried out by notified bodies appointed by the relevant Ministry and then notified by the European Community and deemed to meet the minimum requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/425.