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Guidance for importing e-scooters

Manufacturers, their representatives, and importers must ensure that e-scooters meet the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

As an importer of e-scooters, you have a legal duty to ensure that the products you supply are safe.

E-scooters fall within the definition of 'power transporters' or 'personal light electric vehicles' (PLEVs). As such, they are not currently legal for use on roads or other public highways.

When assessing the safety of these products, a number of matters are taken into consideration and anyone in the supply chain, including retailers, can be held liable for the supply of unsafe products.

Guidance is available below to help you make sure the e-scooters you import are labelled correctly, are accompanied with the correct warnings and instructions, as well as making certain the manufacturer has carried out relevant procedures to ensure the e-scooters are safe.

If you are an importer based in England, you can contact Trading Standards for further advice via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.