Standards EN 17476 and EN 497: what changes for portable gas appliance manufacturers

Key data

Manufacturers and distributors of camping equipment, portable cooking and outdoor burners have had a more direct path to CE marking since 20 July 2026. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1750 officially recognizes two harmonized technical standards under the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/426 on gas appliances: EN 17476:2021 and EN 497:2022.

This is not a change in obligations: it is a simplification. Those who comply with these standards no longer need to demonstrate conformity in another way. The presumption of conformity does the work.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1750 publishes in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) the formal recognition of two harmonized standards. Each covers a different type of product:

The legal mechanism is as follows: when these standards are published in the OJEU as harmonized standards, manufacturers that apply them obtain presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/426. This means that it is not necessary to carry out additional verifications or resort to alternative conformity assessment procedures for these products.

Regulation (EU) 2016/426 regulates the marketing of gas appliances in the European internal market and requires that products undergo a conformity assessment process before bearing the CE marking. Harmonized standards are the most efficient technical shortcut to overcome that process.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this decision is positive and direct for the affected industry. The concrete benefits are:

• Reduction of administrative burdens: Manufacturers that apply EN 17476:2021 or EN 497:2022 avoid alternative conformity assessment procedures, which involve more time, more documentation and, in many cases, more cost.
• Free access to the internal market: Products conforming to these standards can be marketed in all 27 EU member states without the need for additional verifications by the authorities of each country.
• Simplified CE marking: The presumption of conformity streamlines the process of obtaining CE marking, reducing time to market.
• Legal certainty: Manufacturers and distributors have a clear and officially recognized technical reference, which reduces the risk of challenges in market surveillance inspections.

No new obligations or additional costs are introduced. The net effect for those already manufacturing or distributing these products is savings in time and resources in the certification process.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of portable gas appliances with integrated horizontal LPG cartridge (camping stoves, portable cartridge cookers).
• Manufacturers of multi-purpose boiling burners for outdoor use (outdoor burners, field cooking equipment, professional outdoor burners).
• Distributors and importers of these products in the European market that need to demonstrate the conformity of the items they market.
• Certification laboratories and notified bodies that assess the conformity of these equipment: they must know the recognized standards to guide their clients.
• Procurement and product compliance managers in companies in outdoor equipment, camping, outdoor hospitality and similar sectors.

Practical example

A Spanish manufacturer of camping stoves with horizontal LPG cartridge wants to launch a new model to the European market. Until now, if there was no applicable harmonized standard, it had to resort to a more complex conformity assessment procedure, with the involvement of a notified body and extensive technical documentation.

With the official recognition of EN 17476:2021, the manufacturer can design and test its product following the requirements of this standard. By doing so, it automatically obtains the presumption of conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/426, can place the CE marking and market the product throughout the EU without additional procedures before the authorities of each member state.

The practical result: less time to launch, lower certification cost and greater legal certainty against market surveillance inspections in any European country.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your products fall within the scope of EN 17476:2021 or EN 497:2022. Review your catalog: if you manufacture or distribute LPG appliances with horizontal cartridge or multi-purpose outdoor burners, these standards apply directly to you.
2. Acquire or update the technical standards. Access the full texts of EN 17476:2021 and EN 497:2022 through AENOR or the corresponding national standardization body. They are the technical reference you must follow.
3. Review the current conformity assessment process. If you already have products certified by another route, analyze whether adopting these standards simplifies or reduces the cost of future certifications or product reviews.
4. Update technical documentation and the declaration of conformity. If you decide to apply these standards, reflect the references EN 17476:2021 and/or EN 497:2022 in the EU declaration of conformity and in the product technical file.
5. Inform your distribution network. Distributors and importers should know that products conforming to these standards have free access to the internal market without additional verifications: it is a commercial and compliance argument.

Official source

Consult the complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601750