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Reflectors for distribution: standard, CE marking and schedule

· Piia

Updated

The standard, CE marking and instructions for use of a reflector are requirements, not extras. A pedestrian reflector is personal protective equipment, and the same requirements also apply to reflectors that a company, school, association or municipality gives away free of charge. This guide explains what is required of a reflector, what to ask in a quote request and how to plan the order backwards from the distribution date.

According to the Finnish Road Traffic Act, "a pedestrian moving about in the dark must generally use a reflector". This is why a reflector works well as an autumn giveaway: every recipient benefits from it, and your logo goes along for the whole dark season.

Why a reflector is personal protective equipment

A reflector protects the user by making them visible in car headlights, so the EU Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425 applies to it. Tukes, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, classifies pedestrian reflectors in risk category II. Protective equipment in this category must undergo type examination by a notified body before it is placed on the market. Only after that does the manufacturer affix the CE marking to the product.

A notified body is an inspection body designated by the authorities. In the EU type examination it assesses the design of the product and tests a sample against the standard. For a reflector, the checks include reflectivity, the area of the reflective surface and whether the reflector can rotate freely. The buyer cannot measure these themselves, so the markings and documents on the packaging are the way to check the product.

The requirements do not depend on whether the reflector is sold or given away free of charge. In the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation, making available means supplying in the course of business, either for payment or free of charge. A reflector that a company gives out as a promotional gift is therefore covered by the same regulation as one sold in a shop. Tukes has given the same answer to a non-profit association that distributes reflectors free of charge: the reflector must undergo type examination and carry the CE marking, and instructions in Finnish and Swedish must be included.

The responsibility does not lie with the manufacturer alone. Before selling, the seller and distributor must check that the product carries the CE marking and that the required documents and instructions are included.

EN 17353 replaced EN 13356

The standard for a pedestrian reflector is EN 17353. It replaced the old standards EN 13356 (reflectors) and EN 1150 (visible clothing). The European Commission's list shows the standards under which protective equipment is presumed to meet the requirements of the regulation. The old standards were removed from the list on 5 September 2022.

An amendment to the standard has been published, and from 16 June 2026 the list contains the version EN 17353:2020+A1:2025. The original EN 17353:2020 stays on the list until 16 December 2027. The packaging or the certificate may therefore state either version.

There are still reflectors on sale whose packaging states the old standard EN 13356. Liikenneturva, the Finnish Road Safety Council, states that reflectors type-approved under the old standards can be used without concern. When ordering reflectors for distribution now, it is still worth asking in the quote request for a certificate issued under EN 17353.

The standard divides visibility equipment into types by use. Type A is for daylight, type B for darkness and type AB for both. Reflectors are type B, which is divided into three subtypes:

According to the standard, the fastener of a hanging reflector must be at least 10 cm long so that the reflector can swing and is visible in every direction. The instructions of many manufacturers also state that the user should have two reflectors at the same time, one on each side of the body.

What must come with the reflector

According to Tukes, a compliant reflector must come with instructions for use and the following information:

The instructions for use and the markings must be in Finnish and Swedish. This requirement comes from the Finnish act on personal protective equipment intended for consumer use.

Every item of personal protective equipment also has an EU declaration of conformity, in which the manufacturer declares that the product meets the requirements. The declaration comes with the product, or the instructions for use give a web address where it can be found.

A standard and a certificate are different things. The standard sets out the requirements, and the EU type-examination certificate shows that a specific model has been examined against them. A certificate is valid for at most five years, so it is worth checking its number and validity. The certificate must cover the finished reflector, because type examination tests the finished product. Approval of the reflective material alone is therefore not enough.

Checking is also worthwhile because not all products sold as reflectors meet the requirements. Tukes had four reflectors ordered from online shops tested, and none of them met the requirements (press release 1 October 2026). Two of the reflectors had considerable shortcomings in reflectivity. One of them also had too little reflective surface, and the attachment chain of another was so short that the reflector could not rotate freely.

What to ask in the quote request

The quote request should ask about the following:

  1. the standard and type, for example EN 17353, type B1
  2. the notified body that carried out the type examination, and the certificate number and validity
  3. the EU declaration of conformity
  4. instructions for use in Finnish and Swedish, and whether the reflectors are packed individually
  5. for a custom shape, the size of the reflector and the area of the reflective surface
  6. the distribution date and the desired delivery date

Reflector or reflective product

In the blog of Tukes and Liikenneturva the matter is stated plainly: "Products that do not meet the requirements and have not been properly type-examined may not be called reflectors." Many promotional products reflect light but are not reflectors. Examples are reflective keyrings, stickers, zip pulls, clips and card holders. Their reflectivity has not been measured in a type examination.

The line also depends on what is said about the product. According to Tukes, a product is personal protective equipment if the purpose of its visibility is to show the presence of the user or if it is marketed as such. For example, a claim that the print increases safety in the dark, or a name such as "reflector beanie", makes the product personal protective equipment, and it must then meet the requirements for personal protective equipment. The same applies to LED lights intended to increase the visibility of the user.

When distributing a reflective product, it is therefore not called a reflector in the cover letter, on social media or at the distribution event, and it is not promised to improve visibility in traffic. If the purpose of the distribution is traffic safety, a reflector is distributed, and a reflective product can be an addition to it.

Logo, image or custom shape

On a soft reflector the logo is usually under the reflective film, so the print does not cover the reflective surface. On some models the print can be done in four colours and on both sides. On a hard reflector the print sits on top of the surface and is done as screen print or digital print. For this reason the print area of some hard reflectors is limited to one third of the surface area. The price on the product page includes a one-colour print in one position. Additional colours and the second side are priced in the quote.

An image does not change the status of the reflector. A reflector with a picture of a person, a mascot or a drawing is personal protective equipment when it is made and distributed as a reflector. The same documents are therefore requested for a reflector with an image as for a standard model.

A custom shape is made from the outline of, for example, a logo, a character or a drawing. A separate tool is made for the shape from the vector outline. The standard sets a minimum size for the reflective surface, so the smallest soft reflector made in a custom shape is about 50 x 50 mm. A soft reflector in a custom shape can be ordered from 200 pcs, and a hanging reflector in a custom shape from another range from 500 pcs.

The product's certificate and EU declaration of conformity can be requested with the quote. Send the logo as a vector file (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG). File formats and instructions are on the page Logo and artwork.

Choosing a model by quantity and recipient

In the Reflectors group the minimum order quantity is shown on each product card. By quantity, the options are as follows:

Some of the reflectors in the range are made in Finland, and the country of manufacture is stated in the product details.

When calculating the quantity, it is worth remembering the recommendation of Liikenneturva: "According to current recommendations, two or more reflectors should be used so that they are visible in every direction." If a school distributes reflectors to 120 pupils and each receives two, the quantity to order is 240 pcs.

A light soft reflector that is hung on a jacket or backpack suits a child. For an adult who walks or cycles to work, a spring or slap reflector on each arm is suitable. The standard for vests intended for professional use is EN ISO 20471, and the vests are in the group Reflective vests.

For schools, daycare centres and associations

A school, daycare centre or association does not always distribute reflectors in the course of business. According to Tukes, it may still intervene in the safety of personal protective equipment handed over in other ways under the Consumer Safety Act. For a non-profit association Tukes has given the same answer as for a company: a reflector needs type examination, CE marking and instructions for use in Finnish and Swedish.

For distribution to children, choose an individually packed reflector with the instructions in the bag. The instructions then end up at home, and the parents can see how the reflector is attached. In Liikenneturva's guidance, a hanging reflector is placed at knee height and must be able to swing freely. A spring reflector is worn on each wrist or arm. A driver sees best a reflector that is on the road side, and when there are reflectors on both sides, they are visible from every direction.

Children's reflective vests, which can be ordered from 10 pcs, also suit a daycare group. For clubs and family events, the science and craft sets in the Children's products group are suitable, and the recommended age of each set is given on the product page.

Schedule backwards from the distribution date

Reflectors are distributed most from August to November. Many schools distribute reflectors at the start of the school year, and the national Reflector Day is held every year on 1 October. The dark season continues into spring, so a reflector also suits a Christmas greeting or a distribution at the start of the year. The range includes a printed card with a reflector attached for this purpose.

The order proceeds as follows:

  1. Choose a model and add it to the quote basket. In the quote request, state the quantity, print, distribution date and desired delivery date. The quote request is answered by email within one working day.
  2. Send the logo or image. A custom shape is drawn from it.
  3. Before production you receive a print proof to approve. Check the position, size and colours of the logo on it.
  4. Production starts once the proof has been approved. The lead time for printed products is usually about 2 weeks from approval of the proof. The lead time for made-to-order products is usually about 4 weeks from approval of the proof. The exact lead time is stated in the quote, which also shows which of the two applies to the chosen model.

Count backwards from the distribution date: your own distribution to classes or sites, the lead time from approval of the proof, and time for the quote, the artwork and checking the proof. For a Reflector Day distribution, the quote request should be sent already in the summer, which also leaves time for the proof and your own distribution.

Other products for the dark season, such as torches and ice scrapers, are on the page Reflectors and safety products.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Must a reflector given away free of charge carry the CE marking?

Yes. The Personal Protective Equipment Regulation also applies to reflectors handed out free of charge, so type examination, CE marking and instructions for use in Finnish and Swedish are needed for free distribution too.

Is a reflector whose packaging states EN 13356 acceptable?

Liikenneturva states that reflectors type-approved under the old standards can be used without concern. When ordering new reflectors, it is worth asking for an EN 17353 certificate and its validity.

Can a reflector be made in a custom shape?

Yes. The shape is made from a logo, character or drawing. It is dimensioned so that the reflective surface is at least the area required by the standard, so the smallest size is about 50 x 50 mm.

Is using a reflector mandatory?

Under section 13 of the Road Traffic Act, a pedestrian moving about in the dark must generally use a reflector. The law does not say what kind of reflector it must be. The requirements for a reflector that is sold or distributed come from the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation.

How many reflectors should be reserved for one person?

Two or more. The reflectors are then visible in every direction, and the instructions of many manufacturers require two reflectors at the same time.