July 2009 (09B-158)

Bulletin Summary       In a Decision issued in June 2009, the EU Commission established exposure limits for recorded, generated or broadcasted sound created by personal music players equipped with headphones or earbuds. To implement the exposure limits, the Commission has instructed the relevant standards bodies to incorporate sound exposure limits into future standards covering audio and video equipment.

Background

Depending on whether or not the device includes an integrated communications function, the safety of personal music players is currently covered under either Directive 1999/95/EC (the R&TTE Directive), Directive 2006/95/EC (the new Low-Voltage Directive), or Directive 2001/95/EC (on general product safety).

However, none of the harmonized standards that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of these three Directives includes provisions to protect against hearing damage from excessive sound levels.

In taking steps to address the lack of standards related to sound levels in these devices and to further protect consumers, the Commission’s Decision cites that, “Exposure to sound levels (of personal music players) shall be time-limited to avoid hearing damage.” Specifically, “…at 80 dB(A) exposure, time shall be limited to 40 hours/week, whereas at 89 dB(A) exposure shall be limited to 5 hours/week.”

In addition, the Decision recommends the establishment of warnings in standards for personal music players: The warnings “shall provide adequate warnings on the risks involved in using the device and to ways of avoiding such risks; also, provide information to users in cases where exposure poses a risk of hearing damage.”

More Information

The complete text of the Commission’s Decision on personal music players is available at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:161:0038:0039:EN:PDF

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