Being successful in the bike business in Europe requires detailed knowledge of European laws and regulations for bicycles and bike products. Anti-dumping and anti-circumvention duties, CEN safety standards or the Generalized System of Preferences can have a huge impact on the success of a business. Here Bike Europe provides a comprehensive list of the current legislation and trade regulations in place, and important definitions.
As the e-bike industry prepares for the impending battery regulatory overhaul in the European Union, readyness and compliance are becoming increasingly important topics. Bike Europe has created a working timeline of key deadlines related to the battery regulations to support companies as they position themselves within the new framework.
Starting 18 February, 2027, the European Union will mandate a digital battery passport for all light means of transport (LMT) batteries, including e-bikes, to enhance sustainability and traceability. This digital record, accessed via QR code, will contain detailed information on the battery's composition, carbon footprint, technical performance and lifecycle. With one year to go, various solutions and regulatory clarity for the e-bike market are beginning to take shape.
The European and Indian bicycle industries have always maintained close ties, although the trade volume remained relatively low. This might change drastically now: after almost 20 years of difficult talks, the Free Trade Agreement was agreed on 27 January in New Delhi. It's the biggest deal ever made by either side, which has also been eagerly awaited by the bicycle industry.
E-bikes powered exclusively by a generator are considered technically innovative, but until now, they have been difficult to classify legally. This is going to change with the publication of the German standard DIN 31067. Though limited to Germany only, it may apply elsewhere in the EU if adopted or referenced.
The European bicycle industry is one year into the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) set by the European Union, and a recent spate of recalls has raised the question, are these just a series of isolated quality lapses, or part of the broader impact of the GPSR?
The requirement for replaceable cells in e-bike batteries suddenly became a hot topic in 2023, and the European Commission recently added a new chapter to the discussion. The Batteries Regulation, which entered into force in August 2023, made it mandatory to offer the ability to replace individual battery cells for e-bikes in future. This requirement has been removed in the latest amendment from the European Commission. European Cycling Industries (ECI) welcomes this change, but not everyone is happy.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission announced that the European Union will continue to apply the existing import measures, such as import duties or anti-dumping measures on bicycles from China, as there is no valid reason to lift them. To prevent circumvention, the European Commission considers it necessary to apply these duties to all bicycles made in China, plus all shipments from seven countries. A total of 13 bicycle manufacturers across these countries are exempt from this measure.
ATHENS, Greece - A coordinated raid by the European Public Prosecutor's Office in June 2025 has resulted in the arrest of six individuals, the seizure of 2,435 shipping containers and an estimated €250 million worth of e-bikes, textiles and footwear. Customs officers were among those arrested. Since the raid, Greek customs authorities have reported higher compliance, with importers at the port of Piraeus declaring similar goods at prices closer to their actual value.
MONTREUIL, France - French authorities have uncovered a vast financial fraud network in a large-scale investigation that involved over 70,000 Chinese-made e-bikes across six storage sites in the country. The losses amount to €6 million.
LONDON, England - The UK's Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has recommended that anti-dumping duties on bicycles and certain bicycle components imported from China remain in force until 30 August 2029. While the UK government could technically reject the TRA's advice, the move signals strong continuity with EU trade policy, where similar measures remain in place.
