What went wrong with the Babboe case?

A sales ban by the authorities is not uncommon, an ordered recall, however, unique in the bicycle industry. In umpteen accompanied market surveillance procedures that we were able to master successfully with varying manufacturers, we have learned that it must not end up like that. Typically, a deadline is set by which the first measures must be implemented. In addition, there must be a strategy stating how

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and by when the remaining points will be completed. European legislation provides for a more or less precise and type-specific definition of product safety as well as a range of measures accompanying the product. The only thing possible is that Babboe has taken far too little account of these unbreakable regulations in the past and that they could no longer be implemented in their entirety “in a hurry”.

Another reason may have been the fact that during the first recall in 2019 no safe products had been supplied subsequently. That would explain why the usually rather lenient or, from a German perspective, relaxed authorities in the Netherlands acted with unprecedented rigour.

Photo: Zedler-Group

Often requested by the media:

“Many cargo bikes are much more expensive compared to Babboe, but are they also safer?”

The catalogue of measures to make safe electric bicycles available within the EU is comprehensive. This includes not only extensive tests of the frames, the individual parts and the fully-assembled bicycle or cargo bike, but also

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a lot of technical documentation including much more than a user manual. Neither dealers nor consumers will for example set eyes on risk assessments, the recall management system or the test reports of the EMC or the fully-assembled bicycle. The authorities, however, screen them increasingly.

A solid base in all these fields makes the bicycle as well as a cargo bike undoubtedly much better and safer, will cost however umpteen thousand euros per model or model group. A less expensive cargo bike doesn't necessarily have to be unsafe. But the price is in fact a certain indicator of what has been invested in advance by the manufacturer to make their product really safe.

Photo: © Zedler-Group

The basis: equal opportunities in Europe

In flippant terms, the European Union was founded many years ago as the European Economic Community (EEC). To protect the economic area, to remove trade barriers and to shape a fair exchange of goods were some of the reasons.

Consumer protection has also been a priority for years and the EU regularly adopts

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directives and regulations that become national law in the member states.

Manufacturers who develop their products seriously, have tests carried out that go far beyond the inadequate standards and are solidly positioned with regard to the technical documentation required by law, have to bear expenses in terms of time and money. As a consequence, relevant costs have to be added to the product costs. A clear and unfair competitive advantage under European law if you save yourself all these costs.

There can be many reasons for favourable prices as with Babboe products, but saving on safety can also backfire. According to European law, the market surveillance authorities must take action in such a case, without any ifs or buts. And that is exactly what happened now.

We are happy to share with you our extensive wealth of experience from umpteen market and trade surveillance procedures, from umpteen voluntary recalls and from almost countless court proceedings that I have personally experienced as an expert witness.

Photo: Zedler-Group

Don’t panic: essential modules ensuring that your brand is safe

Anyone facing the high mountain of CE conformity, should not panic, but just like on a bike shift down and climb hairpin bend by hairpin bend. There are some things that every manufacturer must resolve in-house after having passed the Basic training course at our company, this is nothing that we can do for you. We offer, however, a strong tailwind for many essential pillars, as we have been offering them ready-to-use for years or alternatively prepared to such an extent that your employees can continue to work in compliance with the law after being instructed. (More information in the portfolio).

Oh yes, we are of course also known for our 24/7 testing which includes a 48-hour promise until test start and in addition accredited across the entire spectrum of our Performance and Safety tests. And when taking account of your supply chain you will be happy about the audited climate-neutral test operations.

Module 1: Training course/workshop as background:

EU law, regulations and directives as well as applicable standards and CE marking explained in a comprehensive way by means of the product bicycle

This workshop addresses

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decision makers, product managers, developers, quality management representatives of dealers, importers and manufacturers, also from the accessory and retrofit sector.

A valuable certificate with the period of training indicated will be issued after participation.

Next date:
April 22, from 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and April 23, 2024, from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

After the training course, there is the opportunity to attend the spring reception of the German association Zukunft Fahrrad e.V., including tour of the museum and the laboratories.

Note: Members of Zukunft Fahrrad e.V., please indicate your membership upon booking. You will receive a credit note for the association discount after booking, payment and participation and subsequently a partial refund.

Register now

Photo: Zedler-Group

Module 2: Training course/workshop fully-assembled bicycle including category-specific template(s) for any number of models of one brand

Training course / workshop for product managers, developers and QS and/or CE representatives directly with e-bike, e-gravel, e-MTB or e-cargo bike. The company brings one to three fully-assembled electric bicycles and goes with the Zedler-Institut team point by point through the fully-assembled

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bicycle tests requested by the standards. The tests will take place in the laboratory and on the road.

At the end, the participants will obtain not only the certificate of attendance, but also the fully completed test report and one or more template(s) to be able to test more models back in the company.

The dates will be fixed with you individually.

Photo: Zedler-Group

Module 3: Risk assessment – Proven modular system to accompany the development

More than ten years ago, the successful foundation was laid under the time pressure of an ongoing market surveillance procedure and has been developed continuously ever since. To date, there are meanwhile the following categories that have been approved by the surveillance authorities in umpteen tests:

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e-bike/EPAC, e-gravel, e-MTB, e-cargo bike, e-folding bike as well as the additional modules for direct marketing and sharing

Do you want to minimise your workload and only have one or a few models? No problem: We will talk about that and supply a risk analysis for your files that has been approved in many cases.

Many models? Not a problem either: In this case, we also supply the template to be used per brand and will train your CE team to handle it quickly and professionally for each model range and of course in a category-specific way.

Are you interested in a risk assessment?

Photo: Zedler-Group

Module 4: operating instructions: from gravel bike to cargo bike

Type-specific, without any effort on your part, quickly and releasing from liability

Let's be honest, operating instructions are not really attractive, but often enough they tip the scales in court and are essential in order to free oneself from the shackles of a trade supervisory authority. And it is certainly not enough to write a few lines about the accessories and to attach the instructions of the drive system manufacturer.

Various standards require

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a very specific form, specific content and provide rules for the text and the graphics. Even the warnings are standardised - did you know that?

As mentioned above, the same applies in this case: Most of the work is done, officially approved and available to you in various versions.

Basic – category-specific content audited externally many times: available ex stock for immediate delivery, from quantities of 50 pieces on
Brand Basic – content like Basic, with your brand-specific 8-page cover for your specific contents. Printed and delivered as of order in approx. 3 to 4 weeks.
Individual – content will be supplemented with photos of your bicycles, e-bikes and cargo bikes, with logos and customized cover in customized inner cover pages. Printed and delivered as of order in approx. 3 to 4 weeks. In addition to the printed booklet you will receive a PDF file of the user manual to be made available on your website.

Supplemented with your specific information about accessories or specific technical properties this is a package that releases you from liability and will not give even mean lawyers and inspectors any leverage to undermine you.

Basic to Individual are available in the categories: city-trekking, road racing/gravel bike, MTB, cargo bike and BMX. Apart from BMX all manuals are also available for electric bicycles/EPACs/e-MTB and e-cargo.

With more than 20 languages they cover most probably the majority of your markets.

Of course, our portfolio also includes the user manual “from scratch”, i.e. from the very beginning. This Premium user manual is, however, not a quick thing and also requires your assistance.

It can, however, be supplied in up to 40 languages.

You need user manuals? Get in touch with us.

Photo: Zedler-Group