Safety of Candles

Candles create a soothing and warm atmosphere in homes. However, their use involves risks that must be properly managed. Candles must be safe and comply with the applicable regulations before being placed on the market. This is mandatory, regardless of their manufacturing method (artisanal or industrial), shape or colour.

Regulations for Candles

Candles must comply with Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR).

In addition to this product safety regulation, other regulations may apply.

For example, if you use chemicals (perfumes, dyes, etc.) or mixtures, there are risks. Additional rules may therefore apply to candles:

• Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
• Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP).

Additional steps may be required to comply with REACH and CLP regulations. Contact the FPS Public Health for more information.

Fire prevention is also regulated. Consult the website of the FPS Interior for further details.

Obligations for Professionals

You will find the detailed obligations for the various parties involved in the distribution chain for candles, including manufacturers, importers and distributors (sellers):

• on the page General Regulations for the Safety of Products Intended for Consumers: Obligations for Professionals
•  in Regulation 2023/988 (EU).

These obligations also apply to artisanal and home-made candles sold to consumers.

Tips for Manufacturers and Importers

• Only manufacture or import candles that are safe for consumers.
• Comply with all legal requirements. Make sure your products meet the general safety requirements.
• Know the products you sell. Inform yourself about safety requirements applicable to your products.
• Ensure that the instruction manuals accompanying the products are correct, clearly illustrated and translated into the language(s) of the country of sale.
• Candle labelling is mandatory. In addition to product and manufacturer identification data, candles must carry certain warnings and pictograms (CLP regulation).
• Refer to the standards. This is not mandatory, but it’s a way to ensure that your product is safe. A product is presumed to be safe if it complies with a standard whose references have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, for the hazards covered by that standard.
• Even if these standards are not referenced, they can still be used to assess compliance with the general safety requirements.
• You can access or purchase the standards from the Bureau for Standardisation (NBN). For candles, but not limited to, the following standards exist: NBN EN 15493 “Candles - Specification for Fire Safety”, NBN EN 15494 “Candles - Product Safety Labels” and NBN EN 17885 “Candle Accessories - Specification for Fire Safety and Product Safety Labels”.
• Anticipate potential product recalls. Clearly explain to consumers how to register products at the time of purchase to receive information about any potential recalls. Make sure the recall notices are clear and accessible.