The Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach (the ‘Blue Guide’) was published in 2000. Since then, it has become one of the main reference documents explaining how to implement the legislation based on the New Approach, now covered by the New Legislative Framework (NLF).

The Guide has the ambition of explaining the different elements of the NLF – including accreditation which is a key pillar of the NLF – as well as market surveillance.

The ‘Blue Guide’ was revised in 2014 to cover new developments and to ensure the broadest possible common understanding of the implementation of the NLF for the marketing of products. It was further revised and adapted in 2016.

This new version of the Guide builds on the past editions, but also reflects recent changes in the legislation and in particular the adoption of a new Regulation on Market Surveillance.

Click here to download the revised document.